Girder
A girder is a large and deep type of beam that is used in construction. It is typically capable of longer spans and taking greater loads than a normal beam, and is often used as a main horizontal structural support for smaller beams, such as in bridge construction.
There are several different types of girder available depending on circumstances, and the load they are required to support:
- Smaller steel girders can be 'rolled' into the required shape. When girders become larger however, a standard rolled shape may not be available and a plate girder may have to be fabricated instead.
- A plate girder is typically an I-beam cross-section made up of separate structural steel plates which are welded, bolted or riveted together to form the deeper vertical web and narrower horizontal flanges of the beam. Plate girders are commonly-used for spans of up to 15m.
- A gantry girder is used for a gantry crane - typically consisting of two ‘A’ frames connected by a lattice cross member which straddles the work area. The lifting gear is suspended from the horizontal girder and can move along it on rails. For more information, see Types of crane.
- A box girder is fabricated from steel plates used to form a rectangular box. This resists torsion better than a plate girder and can be used when depth constraints mean a plate girder cannot be made deeper.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Extended reality in a post-pandemic world.
Can XR technology be leveraged in design & construction?
Or are you capping.
STEM ambassadors needed for ICE CityZen award.
Digital gaming competition for UK students aged 16 to 18.
Heritage protection in England vs Australia.
Fire doors and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme.
Three-quarters of fire doors fail inspections
UN International Day for Biological Diversity, May 22.
The role of geoparks, biospheres and world heritage sites.
BSRIA conference 2022, June 23.
Just one month to go ! Find out more here.
Restoring Broadbent’s Bath House
A new gallery for the University of Huddersfield.
Corruption in the construction industry.
What will it take to stop it ?
To celebrate world bee day 2022 !
Just one month until the changes to part L come into effect.
Not forgetting part F and the new part overheating part O.
Heat Pump demand rises by one quarter.
As energy prices jump up in cost.
With people in the UK from Ukraine.
Industry leader Steve Murray takes on role.
An abundant and versatile building material.
How overheating complicates ending gas in the UK.
600,000 heat pump installations targeted per year by 2028.
Cost planning, control and related articles on DB.
Helping prevent those unwanted outcomes.
ICE debate Public transport - post pandemic.
How has transport changed due to Covid-19 ?
Cross-ventilation in buildings. Do you have it ?
Will you need it ? after June 15 and the new Part O ?
Share your knowledge with the industry.
Create an account and write the first of many articles.
The green jobs delivery group.
CIAT commentary after the first meeting.
Liverpool's world heritage site status
Who is to blame?
Research recommends focussing on portfolio success rather than project success.