In today’s construction industry, in addition to concrete pouring, steel structure construction plays an important role. There are thousands of steel structure engineering companies in China, and steel structure engineering is widely used in global construction, particularly in the development of factory infrastructure. Foundations are indispensable for any construction project, so how can steel structure engineering accelerate the development of factory infrastructure? What preparatory work needs to be done?
Foundation Requirements for Steel Structures in Factory Infrastructure Development
In the development of factory infrastructure, the construction of steel structure engineering is not suitable for partial natural foundation and partial artificial foundation based on a unified structural unit. Therefore, the foundation of steel structure engineering used for factory infrastructure development must have absolute stability. Regarding the method of foundation treatment, the densification method is generally adopted; the other is the deep foundation method, that is, when the building cannot meet the requirements of foundation deformation and strength, the foundation treatment can be carried out in the way of poor soil.
In order to ensure the smooth subsequent construction of steel structure engineering in the development of factory infrastructure, it is necessary to ensure the absolute stability of the foundation. A perfect foundation can not only promote the smooth construction of steel structure engineering in the development of factory infrastructure, but also ensure its subsequent safe use. It is an important foundation for steel structure engineering in the development of factory infrastructure.
As a major steel-producing country, China has long applied steel to the development of factory infrastructure and used steel to build factories. Specifically, it is divided into light steel and heavy steel structure factories.
Structural Components of Steel-Framed Factory Buildings in Industrial Infrastructure Development
In the factory infrastructure development project, the construction of steel structure factory buildings is mainly divided into the following parts:
- Embedded Parts (Anchor Bolts): Provide structural stability for factory buildings and serve as fundamental anchoring elements in steel structure industrial facilities during infrastructure development.
- Columns: Typically constructed using H-section steel or built-up C-section steel (commonly paired with angle steel connectors), forming the primary load-bearing framework for steel structure factories in industrial infrastructure projects.
- Beams: Generally fabricated from C-section or H-section steel (with web height determined by span requirements), defining the load capacity of interior spaces in steel-framed industrial buildings.
- Purlins: Predominantly C-section or Z-section steel members providing secondary roof support systems for steel structure factory buildings.
- Bracing: Round steel tension members that enhance overall structural stability in steel industrial facility construction.
- Cladding: Two main types: Corrugated Single-skin Panels (Color Steel Sheets): Cost-effective solution for budget-conscious industrial infrastructure projects. Sandwich Composite Panels: Provide thermal insulation (maintaining temperature stability), acoustic dampening, and fire resistance – ideal for facilities with stringent environmental and functional requirements.
In the development of factory infrastructure, the steel structure foundation pier mold is also called the steel structure independent foundation mold. Referring to its production mode, the bottom is usually used as the concrete pouring position, and then the support points are welded around the mold. Because the base needs to be equipped with embedded parts to connect the steel structure, the mold adopts the reverse mold method based on many factors.
According to relevant customization standards, the panels and stiffening ribs at the screw connections are all thickened models. The material selection needs to be based on the size of the specific concrete steel structure foundation pier, and then the steel mold is assembled and welded according to the specific construction steps. The size of the steel structure prefabricated foundation pier mold is strictly determined according to the specific size of the factory building, because the size of the factory building determines the support strength requirements of the bottom foundation pier, providing reliable support for the development of factory infrastructure.
Key Advantages of Steel Structure Buildings in Factory Infrastructure Development
Lightweight, high strength, and large span: Although the density of steel is greater than that of other building materials, its strength is very high. Under the same force, the deadweight of steel structure is small, and it can be made into a structure with a large span, which is particularly suitable for the demand for large space in the development of factory infrastructure.
Short construction period: The frame components of the factory building are mainly prefabricated in the factory and installed after being transported to the site. The assembly work is convenient to build, which greatly shortens the cycle of factory infrastructure development and reduces construction costs.
High fire resistance: When the surface temperature of steel is within 150℃, its strength changes very little. When the temperature exceeds 150℃, its strength decreases significantly. Generally, fire retardant coating is applied to the surface of the steel structure to form a protective film to increase the fire resistance limit of the component. Of course, the reasonable division of fire partitions and the use of fireproof roller shutters are also very important. These measures provide guarantees for the fire safety of factory infrastructure development.
Anti-seepage and waterproofing: Rainwater infiltration mainly passes through nodes or gaps, so it is necessary to achieve anti-seepage and waterproofing. Therefore, it is necessary to use a concealed fixation after using a sealing gasket at the screw mouth, and use sealant or welding at the overlap of the board. It is best to use boards of matching size to eliminate the overlap. In addition, strict waterproofing treatment is performed at various node locations to ensure that the internal equipment and production of the factory building are not disturbed by rain during the development of the factory infrastructure.
Sound insulation and heat preservation: Fill the metal roofing layer with sound insulation materials, or apply heat-insulating reflective paint on the metal tile surface to create a good production environment for the development of the factory infrastructure and reduce energy consumption.
Ventilation and cooling: Generally, high-power heating equipment is not specially set up in the factory building, the personnel are not very dense, and there is no odor or dust, so the roof fan can be used. For steel structure factories with higher structures and larger spans, it is best to install a large exhaust fan on the roof to exhaust air to the outside; form indoor negative pressure; press a large amount of fresh air into the workshop from all around the workshop to form air convection; the effect is better, meeting the ventilation needs of different types of factories in the development of factory infrastructure.
Good lighting: Install skylights or glass at specific locations on the roof to provide sufficient natural light for the development of factory infrastructure and save electricity for lighting. However, the service life of the skylight and the coordination with the roof panel should also be considered, and the joints must be waterproofed.
Mechanical Property Standards for Structural Steel in Industrial Facility Development
In the development of factory infrastructure, steel used for steel structure must have the following properties:
- Higher strength. That is, the tensile strength and yield point are relatively high. A high yield point can reduce the cross-section, thereby reducing the deadweight, saving steel, and reducing the cost. High tensile strength can increase the safety of the structure and ensure the stability of the steel structure in the development of factory infrastructure.
- Sufficient deformation capacity. That is, good plasticity and toughness. Good plasticity means that the deformation before the structure is destroyed is more obvious, thus avoiding the risk of sudden destruction, and plastic deformation can also adjust the local peak stress to make it gentler. Good toughness means that more energy is absorbed when it is destroyed under dynamic load, and it also reduces the risk of brittle failure. For structures with plastic design and structures in earthquake zones, the size of the steel deformation capacity is of particular importance, providing a guarantee for the development of factory infrastructure to cope with complex working conditions.
- Good processing performance. It is suitable for cold and hot processing and has good weldability. It does not have a significant adverse effect on strength, plasticity, and toughness due to these processes, which facilitate the production and installation of steel structures in the development of factory infrastructure.
In addition, depending on the specific working conditions of the structures in the development of plant infrastructure, it is necessary to pay attention to the parameters of steel in terms of adaptation to low temperatures, atmospheric corrosion, and high loads.
Key Steel Structure Technologies in Industrial Infrastructure Development
Space frame structure technology: In the development of factory infrastructure, space frame structures offer advantages such as lightweight self-weight, high stiffness, aesthetic design, and rapid construction speed. Structures such as spherical node plate trusses, multi-layer variable-section trusses, and shell structures using steel tubes as members are the most widely used structural forms in China’s spatial steel structure applications. These structures feature high spatial stiffness and low steel consumption, with design, construction, and inspection regulations in place, and can provide complete CAD drawings. In addition to grid structures, spatial structures also include truss structures and irregular-shaped tube truss structures, which meet the demand for large spans and special spatial structures in the development of factory infrastructure.
Light steel structure technology: With the new structural form composed of wall and roof enclosure structure made of light color steel plate, it is widely used in the development of factory infrastructure. The light steel structure system is composed of large-section thin-walled H-shaped steel wall beams and roof purlins welded or rolled from steel plates with a thickness of 5 mm or more, a flexible support system made of round steel and high-strength bolt connections. The column spacing can be from 6m to 9m, the span can reach 30m or more, the height can reach more than ten meters, the steel consumption can reach 20-30 kg/m2, and light lifting machinery can be installed. There are now standardized design procedures and specialized production enterprises, with good product quality, fast installation speed, light weight, low investment, and construction that is not affected by environmental factors. It is an ideal choice for light factory buildings in the development of factory infrastructure.
Steel-concrete composite structure technology: The beam and column load-bearing structure composed of steel or steel management and concrete components is a steel-concrete composite structure, and its application scope in the development of factory infrastructure is expanding. The composite structure has the advantages of both steel and concrete, with high overall strength, good rigidity, and good seismic performance. When the outer concrete structure is used, it has better fire resistance and corrosion resistance. Composite structural components can generally reduce the amount of steel by 15-20%. Combined floor slabs and steel tube concrete components also have the advantages of less or no formwork, convenient and fast construction, and great promotion potential. They are suitable for frame beams, columns, and floor slabs of multi-story or high-rise buildings that bear heavy loads in factory infrastructure development, industrial building columns, and floor slabs, etc.
High-strength bolt connection and welding technology: High-strength bolts transmit stress through friction and are composed of three parts: bolts, nuts, and washers. High-strength bolt connection has the advantages of simple construction, flexible dismantling, high bearing capacity, good fatigue resistance and self-locking, and high safety. It has replaced riveting and partial welding in the production and installation of steel structures for factory infrastructure development and has become the main means of connection. Steel components made in the workshop should adopt automatic arc submerged welding and electroslag welding technologies. Semi-automatic welding technology and gas shielded welding technology should be used in on-site installation and construction to ensure the quality and reliability of steel structure connections in factory infrastructure development.
Steel structure protection technology: Steel structure protection in factory infrastructure development includes fire prevention, corrosion prevention, and rust prevention. Generally, it is accepted that after fire retardant coating treatment, no rust prevention treatment is required, but anti-corrosion treatment is still required in buildings with corrosive gases. During construction, appropriate coatings and coating thickness should be selected according to the steel structure type, fire resistance grade requirements, and environmental requirements to extend the service life of steel structures in factory infrastructure development.
Summarize
Steel structures have become an ideal choice for the development of modern factory infrastructure due to their excellent mechanical properties, efficient construction mode, outstanding sustainability, and good compatibility with intelligent technology.
XTD Steel Structure has been deeply involved in the industry for more than 20 years and has accumulated rich engineering experience. From large-span hangars to various heavy machinery plants, civil infrastructure, and high-rise concrete buildings, it can provide customers with customized solutions based on the world’s leading manufacturing technology to help companies build modern industrial spaces for the future.