Product Name

Medium Channel Steel (Medium C-Channel / Medium U-Channel)

1. Brief description

Medium Channel Steel are C- or U-shaped structural sections sized between light and large/heavy channels. They provide a practical balance of strength, stiffness and economy for medium-span building framing, mezzanines, equipment supports, rails and general structural use where standard rolled or cold-formed channels meet load and handling requirements without the weight and cost of heavy channels or plate girders.

2. Typical materials & grades

Carbon / structural steels: Q235 / S235 / A36 (common).

Higher-yield options: S275 / S355 / A572 Gr.50 (for higher capacity or reduced section).

HSLA / specialty: S420 / S460 if weight reduction or higher yield is required.

Corrosion/marine: weathering steel (Corten), AH36 for ship/offshore, or stainless (304/316) for corrosive environments.

Finishes: mill (black), shot-blast + primer, hot-dip galvanize (HDG), painted / epoxy or duplex systems (HDG + paint).

3. Typical geometry ranges (medium class)

Depth (h): ~120 mm → 300 mm.

Flange width (b): ~50 mm → 150 mm.

Web thickness (tw): ~5 mm → 14 mm.

Flange thickness (tf): ~6 mm → 20 mm.

Weight per metre: commonly ~8 kg/m → ~60 kg/m (section dependent).

Lengths: standard mill lengths (6 m, 12 m) or cut-to-length; spliced delivery for long runs.

Exact dimensions/weights should be taken from the applicable sectional tables (national standards: GB, EN, ASTM/AISC, JIS).

4. How to estimate section area & mass (useful formulas)

You can approximate cross-sectional area (mm²) from component shapes:

Area (mm²) ≈ 2 × (b × tf) + (h − 2 × tf) × tw

Mass per metre (kg/m) = Area (mm²) × 0.00785

(0.00785 = ρ / 1,000,000 with steel density ρ ≈ 7,850 kg/m³)

Worked examples (digit-by-digit checked)

Example channel: h = 150 mm, b = 75 mm, tf = 10 mm, tw = 6 mm

flange area each = 75 × 10 = 750 mm² → 2 flanges = 1,500 mm²

web height = 150 − 2×10 = 130 mm → web area = 130 × 6 = 780 mm²

total area = 1,500 + 780 = 2,280 mm²

mass = 2,280 × 0.00785 = 2,280×0.007 + 2,280×0.00085 = 15.96 + 1.938 = 17.898 kg/m → ≈ 17.90 kg/m

Example channel: h = 200 mm, b = 75 mm, tf = 12 mm, tw = 8 mm

2×(75×12) = 2×900 = 1,800 mm²

web height = 200 − 24 = 176 mm → web area = 176 × 8 = 1,408 mm²

total area = 1,800 + 1,408 = 3,208 mm²

mass = 3,208 × 0.00785 = 3,208×0.007 + 3,208×0.00085 = 22.456 + 2.7268 = 25.1828 kg/m → ≈ 25.18 kg/m

Example channel: h = 100 mm, b = 50 mm, tf = 6 mm, tw = 5 mm

2×(50×6) = 2×300 = 600 mm²

web height = 100 − 12 = 88 mm → web area = 88 × 5 = 440 mm²

total area = 600 + 440 = 1,040 mm²

mass = 1,040 × 0.00785 = 1,040×0.007 + 1,040×0.00085 = 7.28 + 0.884 = 8.164 kg/m → ≈ 8.16 kg/m

These estimates are for quick material and logistics planning. For structural design use official section tables or CAD/FE models for accurate Ix, Iy, Sx, Sy and shear area values.

5. Structural behaviour & design notes

Open section: channel is asymmetrical - bending about the strong axis (flanges vertical) is efficient; torsion and weak-axis bending are less favorable.

Stability: longer, unbraced spans are susceptible to lateral-torsional buckling; lateral restraint or bracing is required.

Paired channels: using channels back-to-back (or welded into boxes) improves symmetry and torsional resistance.

Local reinforcement: flange doublers or web stiffeners are recommended at concentrated loads (bearing plates, crane wheels, bolted connections, etc.).

Purlin use: when used as purlins, verify deflection limits for cladding and check screw spacing/fastener patterns.

6. Fabrication & common value-adds

Cutting & coping: CNC plasma/laser or sawing for precise ends and copes.

Pre-drilling / match-drilling: bolt/clip hole patterns for rapid site assembly.

Welded attachments: pads, lifting lugs, splice plates and flange doublers.

Stiffeners & reinforcements: web stiffeners, flange doublers at supports or concentrated loads.

Surface treatment: shot-blast + primer, HDG, paint/epoxy or duplex coating.

Pre-assembly / splice kits: numbered splice plates, bolts and instructions to reduce site labour.

7. Typical applications

Secondary beams and purlins in medium-span buildings.

Mezzanine framing, platforms, stair stringers and handrail supports.

Equipment rails, conveyor supports, guard rails and racking components.

Structural repairs, retrofits and fabricated box or hybrid sections (paired or welded).

Light crane runways and gantry subframes (with local reinforcement).

8. Quality assurance & testing

Material certification (MTC): chemical & mechanical test reports available on request.

Dimensional checks: depth, flange width, thickness and straightness.

Welding control: WPS/PQR and welder qualifications for built-up sections.

NDT: MT/UT/RT available for critical welds.

Coating inspection: DFT (dry film thickness), adhesion and appearance checks per specification.

9. Surface finishes & corrosion protection

Mill finish (black): economical for indoor or painted applications.

Pickled & oiled: for export or short-term storage.

Hot-dip galvanize (HDG): preferred for long-term outdoor durability.

Electrogalvanize / zinc spray: lighter protection for indoor or mildly corrosive environments.

Paint / epoxy / powder coat / duplex: aesthetic and longevity options for architectural or aggressive environments.

10. Packaging, transport & handling

Bundled with spacers on timber skids or steel cradles; heavy items crated.

Marked tags: section, length, quantity, heat/PO number.

Plan single-piece length to match road/bridge/cranage limits; use spliced deliveries for over-length pieces.

Provide lifting/rigging instructions and recommended slinging points for heavy sections.

11. Ordering information - what we need

When requesting a quote please include:

Section designation (or explicit dimensions h × b × tw × tf) and applicable standard (GB/EN/AISC/JIS).

Material grade and heat-treatment requirement (if any).

Finish / coating (mill / HDG / painted / duplex / stainless).

Length(s) and quantity (cut-to-length or full mill lengths).

Value-added items: pre-drilling, copes, stiffeners, splice kits, welded attachments.

Testing & inspection needs (MTC, 3rd-party witness, NDT).

Transport / site constraints (max single piece, cranage limits, delivery address).

12. Quick FAQ

Q: Can a single medium channel be used as a long-span primary beam?
A: Typically no - for long unbraced spans use box sections, I-beams or paired channels with adequate bracing. Check with a structural engineer.

Q: How to increase local bearing capacity?
A: Add flange doublers or bearing plates welded to the flange; consider increased flange thickness.

Q: Which finish for coastal exposure?
A: HDG or duplex (HDG + paint). For severe marine service consider stainless or specialized coatings.

If you want, provide a specific channel dimension or the span/load conditions and I will:

return section properties (area, approximate mass/m, Ix, Sx) using the exact dimensions; or

suggest 2–3 candidate medium channel sizes with brief strength and deflection guidance for your application.

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