Channel bar specific weight: weight of 1 meter by size

A channel bar is a type of steel rolled metal, a metal profile with a U-shaped cross-section. It is made from ordinary-quality carbon steel by cold or hot rolling, and also from quality and low-alloy steels.

In the shape of a channel bar, the following are distinguished:

• flanges - side faces that can be parallel or have an inclination of the inner sides, and, depending on channel type, can be equal or different in height;
• web, the bridge between the flanges, which has different thickness depending on the type.

Rolled-metal parameters are defined by standards and technical documentation. For channel bars, the profile number, series, dimensions, rolling accuracy and steel grade are important. Compliance with GOST or another standard should be confirmed by the manufacturer’s accompanying documents.

There are general designations written in the product index next to the number indicating profile height. Categories of shapes and sizes are represented as follows:

• U - profile flanges have an inclination of the inner walls,
• P - flanges are parallel,
• E - economical profile with parallel flanges,
• L - lightweight channel with parallel flanges,
• S - special-purpose.

Rolling can have different accuracy. According to GOST standards, this parameter must also be specified in the product accompanying documents:

• high rolling accuracy - “A”,
• ordinary, average accuracy - “V”,
• increased accuracy - “B”.

Channel bar weight and use

The area of channel bar use is quite wide because the weight of 1 meter of channel bar is relatively low, and also because of the profile’s low metal consumption and high strength. Channel bars are used in many industries, mainly as a structural element of buildings, architectural compositions, bridges, railway car construction, machine tools and automobile construction.

The main use of channel bar is in construction as an element for reinforcing reinforced concrete structures, or as an independent building material for erecting frame structures, installing floors and so on.

For correct load calculations when planning a structure and supports, it is necessary to know exactly how much a channel bar weighs. There is no need to weigh the whole product. Knowing the weight of 1 m of channel bar, it is very easy to calculate the mass of the entire length.

Channel bar is used not only as a structural element. It is often used to strengthen walls, roofs and floors. The U-shaped profile works well in bending and in load-bearing assemblies, but allowable loads must be calculated by project, taking steel grade, support scheme and service conditions into account.