Journal of Steel Structures & Construction

Abstract

Xing Ma

Iron has been used as construction material in human society for
long time. The first iron-chain suspended bridge, 106 m span Jihong
Bridge, was built in Southwest China in 1400s. In Europe, the first
cast iron bridge appeared in 1700s in Telford, England. Cast iron was
later replaced by more reliable wrought iron for construction of most
railway bridges in early 1800s. It was not until late 1800s / early 1900s
that steel structural systems appeared and took over iron in modern
construction industry. Based on the manufacturing procedure, steel
structures can be separated into two main categories: hot-rolled steel
and cold-formed steel. Accordingly, there are two independent design
and constructional systems.