Blog posts of '2023' 'November'

Albina recently rolled various material for the eagle feather-inspired roof at the American Indian Hall at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. ThinkOne Construction Management designed a barrel-vaulted, curved, standing beam roof in the shape and color of an eagle feather. Metal roofing was specified to ensure durability and to create a non-penetrating attachment point for solar panels. The project was featured on page 37 of the October/November Issue of Metal Architecture. 

TS 14" X 4" X .375" WALL A500 GR B-2 pcs rolled the easy way to a 27’ -8” radius

6" X 6" X 5/16" ANGLE A36-7 pcs rolled leg out to a 92’-0” radius

4" X 4" X ½" ANGLE A36-2 pcs rolled leg out to a 107’-3” radius

Photo Credit: Jacob Teats

We also rolled the materials for the spiral staircase on this project.

MC12 X 10.6# A36

5 pcs rolled flanges out to a 67’-0” radius

4 pcs spiral rolled flanges out to a 67’-0” radius

5 pcs rolled flanges in to radii ranging from 57’-5” - 67’-5” radius

4 pcs spiral rolled flanges in to a 63’-0” radius

2" X 2" X ¼" ANGLE A36

1 pc rolled leg out to a 67’-5” radius

1 pc rolled leg in to a 67’-10” radius

Photo Credit: Jacob Teats

Albina Co., Inc. has the capability to bend almost any material that is mill produced.  Every material has its own unique shape and is also uniquely dimensioned.  We are frequently asked questions related to material dimensioning and sizing.  The focus of this blog will be beams, specifically wide flange and I-Beam “S shapes”.

1. How do you measure beams?
2. How is the sizing of steel beams determined?
3. How do you measure the width of a beam?
4. How do you measure the depth of a beam?
5. What is the difference between the web and the flange of a beam?

See the AISC Structural Steel Dimensioning Tool for detailing dimensions of all rolled sections. 

Beams come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the most common beams produced are Wide Flange and I-Beam “S shapes”.  These two materials are shaped differently but have most of the same dimensioning characteristics.

Flanges vs. Web.  Every beam will have two flanges and one web.  The flanges make-up the outside faces of the beam, while the web is the material connecting the two flanges.

The width of a beam is the dimension / length of the flange.

The depth of a beam is the outside-to-outside dimension / distance between the flanges. 

Web thickness is the thickness of material of the Web material.

Flange thickness is the thickness of material of the Flange material.

The biggest difference between I-Beam and Wide Flange is the flange thickness.  Wide Flange has a consistent flange thickness, while I-Beam does not have a consistent flange thickness, because the thickness varies over the length of the flange.  The flange thickness is thicker the closer it gets to the web.

Albina recently rolled 36 pieces of Tube Steel 6” X 6” X .375” WALL A500 GR C to AESS standards at radii ranging from 3’-9” – 24’-4” for the United States Air Force Academy Visitors Center. The visitors center is expected to open early 2024 and the 32,000 square-foot facility will include storytelling and high-tech exhibits reflecting the Air Force and Space Force missions as well as illustrating a day in the life of a cadet at the Academy.  The Visitors Center is viewed as more than a public entrance to the Academy, it is also a gateway to Colorado Springs. Six years in the making, the new area will also feature a hotel, retail space and office space. 

Below are a few videos with more details on the project. 

You Tube Video

Colorado Springs Local News Channel KKTV