GIRDER

A 'girder' is a large support beam used in construction, normally of iron or steel. Girders often have an I beam cross section for strength, but may also have a box shape, Z shape or other forms. Girder is the term used to denote the main horizontal support of a structure which supports smaller beams.
The 'Warren' type girder combines strength with economy of materials and can therefore be relatively light. Patented in 1848 by its designers James Warren and Willoughby Theobald Monzani, its structure consists of longitudinal members joined only by angled cross-members, forming alternately inverted equilateral triangle-shaped spaces along its length, ensuring that no individual strut, beam, or tie is subject to bending or torsional straining forces, but only to tension or compression. An improvement over the 'Neville' truss which uses a spacing configuration of isoceles triangles.

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In popular culture

See also

In popular culture

★ The Scottish Irn-Bru was advertised as being "made in Scotland, from girders", but this claim has not been substantiated.

★ Girder (comics) is the name of a DC Comics supervillain.

★ Bender from the TV show Futurama was made to be a Girder bender.

★ Girders are popular tools in the Worms computer and video game series.

See also

★ Structural steel

★ Wide Flange Steel Materials and Rolling Processes (U.S.)

★ Box girder bridge

★ Truss