Glue-laminated beam vs steel beam

[Pes]

Is there any general rule about how much smaller a steel beam can be for the same load-bearing capacity as a glulam beam? We would need a glulam beam that is 100 mm x 500 mm. Approximately how much smaller could one expect when switching to a steel beam (or are there other alternatives?)? Are we talking a few centimeters or more??

 

[Magnus_Nordmark]

Hello!

No, there is no general "rule." You have to calculate each individual case and see which beam can be used. However, it can be said that a steel beam can generally be lower than a glued laminated timber beam, quite a lot as well.

 

[Pes]

Thank you! Let's move on and investigate the matter further!

 

[Frxy]

Hello!
Do you mean H steel beam? If you provide a bit more info (length for example), you can get an accurate answer.

 

[jorwes]

Glued laminated beam and steel beam have completely different properties. Depending on the requirements of the structure where the beam will be used, completely different dimensioning results are obtained.

Generally speaking, a glued laminated beam is often "stiffer" (pre-cambered) but if you can tolerate a slight bending, a steel beam can withstand much more load.

So the question is what you will use the beam for.

/Jögga

 

[Magnus_Nordmark]

Glued laminated beams and steel beams have completely different properties. Depending on the requirements of the construction where the beam is to be used, completely different design results are obtained.

In general, it can be said that a glued laminated beam is often "stiffer" (pre-bent), but if a slight bending can be tolerated, a steel beam can withstand much more load.

The question is what you intend to use the beam for.

/Jögga

Exactly.

Another aspect to consider is fire safety. A steel beam is significantly worse in terms of fire safety because it collapses much earlier than a wooden one. A steel beam twists and becomes soft already at a few hundred degrees, whereas a wooden beam burns slowly.

A wooden framework thus stands much longer than a steel one in a fire. Therefore, steel beams are often clad with double gypsum to increase fire safety.