Bulb Flat Steel

Bulb flat steel  is a kind of special steel, which is composed of a flat web and a spherical ball head. It is an asymmetric steel. Bulb flat steel is mainly used in shipbuilding and bridge building. Bulb flat steel has many excellent properties , making it an ideal choice for many industries.

Bulb flat steel is a kind of steel with a special shape. Its cross-sectional shape shows a combination of spherical and flat shapes. The characteristics of spherical flat steel will be explained in detail from the following aspects.

1. Unique appearance

The cross-sectional shape of the bulb flat steel is unique, showing a combination of spherical and flat shapes. Compared with the traditional round or square cross-section steel, the bulb flat steel is more beautiful and generous, which can bring unique visual effects to the project.

2. Excellent strength

Ball flat steel is made of high-quality steel and has high strength and rigidity. It can withstand large pressure and load, has good bending and tensile properties, and can meet the needs of parts with high strength requirements in engineering.

3. Lightweight design

Compared with traditional steel, ball flat steel has a lighter weight. Due to the particularity of its cross-sectional shape, the bulb flat steel can reduce the amount of materials used while ensuring the strength, realize lightweight design, reduce the self-weight of the project, and improve the bearing capacity of the structure.

4. Easy to process

Spherical flat steel has good plasticity and weldability, and can be easily processed by cutting, bending, stamping and welding. This makes the application of bulb flat steel in the engineering field more flexible and diverse, and can meet the needs of different engineering projects.

5. Excellent corrosion resistance

Bulb flat steel usually adopts surface treatment processes such as galvanizing or plastic spraying, which can effectively improve its corrosion resistance. This enables the flat bulb steel to be used stably for a long time in both indoor and outdoor environments, extending its service life and reducing maintenance costs.

6. Environmentally friendly and sustainable

The production process of bulb flat steel is relatively environmentally friendly, and its materials can be recycled and reused, reducing the waste of resources. Bulb flat steel also has low energy consumption and environmental pollution during use, which meets the requirements of modern engineering for environmental protection and sustainable development.

7. Wide applicability

Bulb flat steel has a wide range of applications and can be used in various engineering projects such as construction, machinery manufacturing, shipbuilding, bridge engineering, and road guardrails. Its unique shape and excellent performance enable the flat bulb to meet the material requirements of different engineering projects.

8. Economical and practical

The production cost of bulb flat steel is relatively low, and it can exert high performance during use, and has good economic benefits. Bulb flat steel has been widely used in the engineering field and has become an economical and practical building material.

Application of Bulb Flat Steel in Engineering Field

Bulb flat steel, as a special shape of steel, has been widely used in the field of engineering. The following will elaborate on the application of bulb flat steel in the engineering field from the following aspects.

1. Construction field

Bulb flat steel can be used in beams, columns, floors and other parts of building structures, and can withstand large loads and pressures. Its unique appearance and excellent strength make buildings more beautiful and stable, and can meet the needs of different construction projects for structural materials.

2. Machinery Manufacturing

Bulb flat steel can be used in the production of parts in machinery manufacturing, such as bearings, gears, transmissions, etc. Its excellent strength and wear resistance make the mechanical equipment more stable and reliable, and improve the service life and operating efficiency of the mechanical equipment.

3. Shipbuilding

Bulb flat steel can be used in the manufacture of hull structures and ship equipment in shipbuilding. Its lightweight design and corrosion resistance make the ship more energy-saving and environmentally friendly, reduce the ship's dead weight, and improve the ship's load capacity and sailing speed.

4. Bridge engineering

Bulb flat steel can be used in bridge girders, bridge decks and other parts in bridge engineering, and can withstand large loads and vibrations. Its excellent strength and rigidity make the bridge more stable and safe, and can meet the requirements of different bridge projects for structural materials.

5. Road guardrail

Spherical flat steel can be used in the production of road guardrails to protect pedestrians and vehicles. Its unique appearance and strength make the road guardrail more beautiful and stronger, improving the safety and efficiency of road traffic.

6. Other applications

In addition to the above aspects, flat bulb steel can also be used in petrochemical industry, power equipment, municipal engineering and other fields. Its diverse shapes and excellent properties enable flat bulb steel to meet the material requirements of different engineering projects and has broad application prospects.

Bulb flat steel has the characteristics of unique appearance, excellent strength, lightweight design, easy processing, excellent corrosion resistance, environmental protection and sustainability, wide applicability, economical and practical, etc. In the field of engineering, bulb flat steel is widely used in various engineering projects such as construction, machinery manufacturing, shipbuilding, bridge engineering, road guardrails, etc., providing important support for the stability, safety and aesthetics of the project.

In China, bulb flat steel used in the shipbuilding industry is typically produced and supplied in accordance with Chinese National Standards (GB/T) or Industry Standards. The primary standard governing bulb flat steel in China is:

GB/T 9945-2012: "Dimensions, shape, weight and tolerances for hot-rolled steel sections - Part 5: Bulb flats": This standard specifies the dimensions, shape, weight, and tolerances for hot-rolled bulb flats used in the construction of ships and other marine structures.

GB/T 9945-2012 ensures that bulb flat steel produced in China meets specific quality and performance standards, making it suitable for marine applications and shipbuilding purposes.

In addition to the Chinese National Standard, other classification societies' rules and guidelines may also be followed in China for the use of bulb flat steel in shipbuilding projects. Classification societies such as China Classification Society (CCS) and other international societies set standards for materials and construction of ships.

In the United States, bulb flat steel used in the shipbuilding industry is typically produced and supplied in accordance with various industry standards and specifications. The primary standard governing bulb flat steel in the US is:

ASTM A131/A131M: This specification covers structural steel plates, shapes, and bars intended primarily for use in ship construction. Part of this standard includes requirements for bulb flat steel used as a material for shipbuilding.

ASTM A131/A131M outlines the mechanical properties, chemical composition, dimensions, tolerances, and other technical requirements for bulb flat steel used in the construction of ship hulls and decks. It ensures that the bulb flat steel meets specific quality and performance criteria, making it suitable for use in marine applications.

In addition to ASTM standards, other related standards and specifications may apply depending on the specific requirements of the shipbuilding project or the classification society involved. Classification societies such as the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and others may have additional rules and guidelines related to the use of bulb flat steel in shipbuilding.

In the United Kingdom, bulb flat steel used in the shipbuilding industry is typically produced and supplied in accordance with British Standards (BS) and European Norms (EN). The primary standard governing bulb flat steel in the UK is:

BS EN 10067: "Hot-rolled bulb flats - Dimensions and tolerances on shape, dimensions and mass": This standard specifies the dimensions, tolerances, and mass of hot-rolled bulb flats used in the construction of ships. It covers the size and shape requirements of the bulb flats, ensuring uniformity and compatibility with shipbuilding projects.

BS EN 10067 ensures that bulb flat steel used in the UK conforms to specific quality and performance standards, making it suitable for marine applications and shipbuilding purposes.

In addition to the British Standard, other classification societies' rules and guidelines may also be followed in the UK for the use of bulb flat steel in shipbuilding projects. Classification societies such as Lloyd's Register (LR), Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyd (DNV GL), and others set standards for the materials and construction of ships.

In Japan, bulb flat steel used in the shipbuilding industry is typically produced and supplied in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). The primary standard governing bulb flat steel in Japan is:

JIS G 3192: "Dimensions, mass and permissible variations of hot-rolled steel sections": This standard specifies the dimensions, sectional properties, and mass of hot-rolled steel sections, including bulb flats. It covers the requirements for the size, shape, and tolerances of bulb flat steel used in shipbuilding and other structural applications.

JIS G 3192 ensures that bulb flat steel produced in Japan meets specific quality and performance standards, making it suitable for use in various marine construction projects.

Additionally, in the context of shipbuilding, various classification societies may also have their own rules and guidelines for the use of bulb flat steel. Classification societies such as Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) and Nippon Kaiji Kentei Kyokai (NKKT) are prominent in Japan and set standards for materials and construction of ships.

The welding angle at the edge of the web shall not be greater than 4°, as shown in the figure below:

Curvature:
The bending degree per meter of bulb flat steel shall not be greater than 3 mm, and the total bending degree shall not be greater than 0.3% of the total length.
End bevel:
The chamfering of the end of the bulb flat steel shall not be greater than 5mm
Length tolerance:
The usual length of bulb flat steel is 4000mm~12000mm.
The allowable deviation of the length of the bulb flat steel is less than 3mm.
weight
Bulb flat steel is delivered according to the theoretical weight, and the theoretical delivery weight is calculated according to the fixed length. There is a certain deviation between the theoretical weight of the shipment and the actual weight. When the delivery weight is not less than 5 tons, the deviation is +6%-2%. When the delivery weight is less than 5 tons, the deviation is +8%-2.7%. Bulb flat steel can also be delivered according to actual weight, but it should be specified in the contract.