Angle Steel Bar

Angle Steel Bar is the name given to the specialist steel beams created with an ‘L-Shaped’ cross section. These Angle Steel Bars are typically constructions made from ‘Structural Steel’ which, like other structural steel bars, is constructed according to a specific cross-section, shape and also certain standards of mechanical properties and chemical composition. The shape, size, strength, composition and storage of these Angle Steel Bars are regulated by certain bodies in most industrialized countries.

Most steel that is used for structural purposes throughout the whole continent of Europe are supposed to comply with the European Standard EN 10025 and therefore must have certain specifications accordingly. However, despite the need to comply with this European standard, many countries employ their own standards regarding structural steel.

The typical ‘grades’ that are used in the classification of structural steel (such as the Angle Steel Bars) are ‘S275J2’ or ‘S355K2W’. In these gradings of steel, the ‘S’ signals that the steel item in question is Structural rather than engineering steel. The figures 275 and 355 signals the yield strength (the stress level at which a material begins to deform plastically and this plastic deformation will become permanent (unlike elastic deformation in which the deformation incurred by the material will return to normal). The numbers indicating this yield strength represent the yield strength in newtons per square millimetre (or the equivalent megapascals). Finally, J2 and K2 indicates the toughness of the material by referencing the Charpy Impact Test values (denoting the amount of energy absorbed by a material during fracture.

Also, the ‘W’ of some structural steel gradings indicates that the steel in question is weathering steel. Other letters that can also feature in the grading of steel are N and NL which indicates fine grain steel; Q and QL which indicates Quenched and Tempered Steel; and thermomechanically rolled steel (illustrated by the letters M and ML).

The normal grades of structural steel that are available are 195, 235, 275, 355, 420 and 460 however certain grades are far more commonly used than others are. For example, in the United Kingdom, almost all structural steel that is used is of either grade S275 and S355. However, higher grades are more often available in tempered and quenched material (such as 500, 550, 620, 690, 890 and 960) although it is often the case that those grades exceeding 690 receive little (if any) use in construction at this present time.