The wider application and benefit of thinner Hot Rolled Hollow Sections

In contemporary structural design, slender hot-rolled hollow structural sections (HSS), including square (SHS), rectangular (RHS), and circular (CHS) tubes, have become a greatly adaptable option. Despite a reduction in wall thickness, slim profiles continue to provide distinct performance, cost, and pleasing design advantages. One of the main advantages of slim HSS is their strong weight-to-strength ratio. Since pure material is positioned along the perimeter, HSS is able to carry considerable loads while utilizing less steel than other solid and open profile alternatives. This also lessens the material cost while relieving transport and handling costs. Additionally, as Atlas Tube notes, using HSS results in lighter structures which can also mean reducing foundational requirements and the overall embodied carbon footprint of a structure.

These hollow parts are also lightweight and offer superb torsional resistance. Twisting force is more efficiently countered by closed hollow sections compared to open sections, which is valuable in cases with loads coming from multiple directions. The superior torsional stiffness is one of the reasons HSS are effective in both conventional and seismic frame which minimizes the use of bracing. Another of the primary advantages is aesthetics. HSS are popular in structures where the building materials are left exposed because of their smooth surfaces, clean lines, and rounded corners, which are visually appealing. In addition, compared to open sections, the reduced external surface area results in a decreased requirement for exterior surface treatments (fireproofing or painting).

Once more, there is the significant benefit of the aesthetic value. HSS have clean lines, smooth finishes, round edges, and overall, a more polished look, meaning they have a more desirable look than competitor options for finishes on exposed architectural elements. Additionally, the lower external area means they require less surface treatment (painting, fireproofing, etc.) than open sections.

Then for the case of durability and efficiency, HSS has even more advantages. The closed shape improves maintenance and corrosion, and the steel provides high ductility for energy absorption under varying loads. However, the construction of members with very thin walls is exposed to cautious design; local buckling can be critical. Then proper cross sections and stiffening details should be considered.

To sum up, thinner hot-rolled HSS is a slender and visually refined alternative solution for contemporary structures being efficient, durable and easy to roll. Due to their excellent performances and low material consumptions, they have obvious advantages in both engineering and architectural fields.

References

Atlas Tube. (2022). Top 10 reasons to use HSS in your next design [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.atlastube.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/topTenReasonsShort.pdf

Baowi Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (n.d.). Hollow structural section (HSS) advantages in construction. Retrieved from https://www.baowi-steel.com/newsdetail/hollow-structural-section-hss-advantages-in-construction.html

Intamet. (n.d.). How structural hollow sections improve steel frameworks. Retrieved from https://intamet.com/structural-hollow-sections/

McCormick, J. (2018). Considerations for use of HSS in seismic frame systems. Steel Tube Institute. Retrieved from https://steeltubeinstitute.org/resources/considerations-for-use-of-hss-in-seismic-frame-systems/

SL Pipeline. (n.d.). Hollow structural section: Engineering insights and applications. Retrieved from https://www.slpipeline.com/Hollow-Structural-Section-Engineering-Insights-and-Applications.html