Carbon Steel T-Bar — Factory Direct Supplier | Huaxia-Steel
Carbon steel T-bars (also called T-sections or tee bars) are hot-rolled structural sections with a flat flange and a perpendicular web, forming a “T” cross-section. They are widely used in construction, mechanical fabrication, and shipbuilding for stiffeners, bracing, and connection members where lighter weight and higher stiffness than flat bar is required.
Huaxia Steel supplies factory-direct carbon steel T-bars in EN 10055 / EN 10025 grades (S235JR, S275JR, S355JR), ASTM A36, JIS G3101 SS400 and equivalent Chinese grades (Q235B, Q355B), in standard and cut lengths, with mill-direct pricing and full MTC 3.1 / 3.2 certification.
1. Product Overview
Carbon steel T-bars are produced by hot-rolling a rectangular billet through a sequence of stands that progressively shape the cross-section into a “T”. The flange (horizontal part) and the web (vertical part) are integral — no welds. The standard “T” section has equal flange and web thickness, but tapered-edge variants are also available.
T-bars are used as:
- Wall studs and partition framing in light-gauge construction
- Stiffeners for plate girders and box girders
- Bracing members in steel structures
- Connection plates and gusset tabs
- Door and window frame components
- Ship hull stiffeners and bulkhead frames
- Vehicle chassis and trailer cross-members
- Machinery frames and equipment skids
2. Specifications and Dimensional Range
Carbon steel T-bars per EN 10055 cover the following dimensional range:
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Flange width (b) | 20 mm to 140 mm |
| Web height (h) | 20 mm to 140 mm |
| Flange thickness (tf) | 3 mm to 16 mm |
| Web thickness (tw) | 3 mm to 16 mm |
| Standard length | 6 m / 12 m (custom cut available) |
| Length tolerance | ±50 mm (cut length) / per EN 10055 |
The flange width and web height are typically equal, defining a “square T”. For unequal T-bars, see cut-to-length flat bar or split-beam sections.
3. Available Grades
Carbon steel T-bars are supplied in the following grades:
| Grade | Standard | Min Yield (MPa) | Min Tensile (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S235JR | EN 10025-2 | 235 | 360–510 |
| S275JR | EN 10025-2 | 275 | 410–560 |
| S355JR | EN 10025-2 | 355 | 470–630 |
| S355J0 | EN 10025-2 | 355 | 470–630 |
| S355J2 | EN 10025-2 | 355 | 470–630 |
| ASTM A36 | ASTM A36 / A6 | 250 | 400–550 |
| ASTM A572 Gr.50 | ASTM A572 | 345 | 450 min |
| JIS G3101 SS400 | JIS G3101 | 245 | 400–510 |
| Q235B | GB/T 700 | 235 | 370–500 |
| Q355B | GB/T 1591 | 355 | 470–630 |
For structural design, S235JR / SS400 / Q235B are interchangeable general-purpose grades. S275JR is used where slightly higher strength is needed. S355JR / Q355B / A572 Gr.50 are high-strength grades for critical structural applications.
4. Standard Section Sizes (EN 10055)
The table below lists the most common EN 10055 T-bar sizes:
| Designation | h (mm) | b (mm) | tw (mm) | tf (mm) | Mass (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T 20 | 20 | 20 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.88 |
| T 25 | 25 | 25 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.29 |
| T 30 | 30 | 30 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.77 |
| T 40 | 40 | 40 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 2.94 |
| T 50 | 50 | 50 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4.44 |
| T 60 | 60 | 60 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.21 |
| T 70 | 70 | 70 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.36 |
| T 80 | 80 | 80 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 10.8 |
| T 90 | 90 | 90 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 13.4 |
| T 100 | 100 | 100 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 16.4 |
| T 120 | 120 | 120 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 23.2 |
| T 140 | 140 | 140 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 31.3 |
5. Dimensional Tolerances per EN 10055
EN 10055 specifies the following dimensional tolerances for T-bars:
| Parameter | Tolerance |
|---|---|
| Flange width (b) | ±1.0 mm (b ≤ 50 mm); ±1.5 mm (b > 50 mm) |
| Web height (h) | ±1.0 mm (h ≤ 50 mm); ±1.5 mm (h > 50 mm) |
| Flange thickness (tf) | ±0.5 mm (tf ≤ 6 mm); ±0.75 mm (tf > 6 mm) |
| Web thickness (tw) | ±0.5 mm (tw ≤ 6 mm); ±0.75 mm (tw > 6 mm) |
| Length | ±50 mm (cut length); per EN standard (mill length) |
| Mass per metre | ±4% to ±6% (per size) |
| Out-of-square | ≤ 2% of b |
For tighter tolerances, specify on the purchase order or request “precision cut” for length. Most mills deliver tighter than the standard tolerance.
6. Welding and Fabrication
Carbon steel T-bars are readily weldable using SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW processes. For S235JR / A36 / SS400 / Q235B, standard E6013 / E7018 stick electrodes or ER70S-6 wire are suitable. For S355JR / Q355B / A572 Gr.50, low-hydrogen consumables (E7018, ER70S-3) are recommended for thicker sections.
Prelating to 150°C is recommended for S355JR / Q355B / A572 Gr.50 above 25 mm thickness. Post-weld heat treatment is generally not required for carbon steel structural T-bars.
T-bars can be cut, drilled, punched, bent and formed using standard fabrication equipment. For tight-radius bending, specify the bend orientation (web-in or flange-in) at the time of order so the mill can confirm formability.
7. Applications
Carbon steel T-bars are used in:
- Building construction — wall studs, partition framing, window and door lintels, ceiling grids
- Steel structure — stiffeners, gusset plates, bracing members, secondary framing
- Shipbuilding — hull stiffeners, bulkhead frames, deck beams, superstructure
- Industrial equipment — machinery frames, equipment skids, conveyor supports
- Vehicle and trailer — chassis cross-members, trailer frames, truck body stiffeners
- Storage and racking — pallet racking beams, shelving uprights
- Fencing and gates — gate frames, fence posts, handrails
- Agriculture and greenhouse — structural frames, support members
8. Quality Assurance
Every batch of carbon steel T-bars from Huaxia Steel is supplied with:
- EN 10204 Type 3.1 / 3.2 mill test certificate
- Heat analysis with actual C, Mn, P, S, Si values (and Nb, V, Ti for high-strength grades)
- Product analysis (check analysis) for critical elements
- Tensile test per EN 10002 / ASTM A370
- Charpy V-notch test at the specified temperature (for S355J2 / S355NL / A572)
- Dimensional inspection per EN 10055 / ASTM A6
- Visual inspection for surface defects
9. Packaging and Shipping
Standard packaging for carbon steel T-bars:
- Bundle weight: 1–3 tonnes per bundle (larger sizes) or 50–100 pieces per bundle (smaller sizes)
- Steel banding with edge protection at corners
- Wooden crates or wooden bottom for small T-bars
- 20 ft container fits 20–25 tonnes (depending on length)
- 40 ft container fits 25–28 tonnes (depending on length)
- Bulk vessel for large orders over 1000 tonnes
- All bundles marked with manufacturer, grade, size, heat number, bundle number, weight
Standard lead time is 15–30 days for stocked sizes and 30–45 days for mill-run orders. Express production available for large orders on request.
10. Comparison with Other Structural Sections
T-bars are one of several structural sections. Comparing with other options:
| Section | Form Factor | Typical Use | Cost per kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-bar (T-section) | T shape | Stiffener, framing | Baseline |
| Flat bar | Rectangle | Bracket, plate, base | 5–10% below T-bar |
| Angle (L-section) | L shape | Bracing, framing | Similar to T-bar |
| Channel (C-section) | C shape | Purlins, framing | 5–15% above T-bar |
| I-beam (H-section) | I / H shape | Main beams, columns | 10–25% above T-bar |
| Hollow section (SHS / RHS) | Square / rectangular tube | Columns, structural | 15–30% above T-bar |
T-bars are intermediate between flat bar (one-dimensional strength) and I-beams (high bending stiffness). They are chosen when:
- One side needs stiffening perpendicular to the other (web-flange orientation)
- The component will be welded to a flat plate or surface (web-down on a plate provides reinforcement)
- Symmetric cross-section is not required (channel or I-beam would be excessive)
- Weight and material cost must be balanced against stiffness
11. Cost and Lead Time Considerations
Carbon steel T-bar pricing depends on the grade, size, length, quantity and delivery destination. As a rule of thumb:
- T 20 to T 50 small sizes are typically 5–10% above flat bar pricing
- T 60 to T 100 medium sizes are the most common and competitively priced
- T 120 to T 140 large sizes add 15–25% over medium sizes due to limited mill capacity
- S235JR / A36 / Q235B are the baseline reference prices
- S275JR adds 5–10% over S235JR for higher strength
- S355JR / A572 Gr.50 / Q355B adds 15–25% over S235JR for high-strength
- EN 10055 specific dimensions are typically 10–20% above generic mill T-bars for the tighter dimensional control
- Hot-dip galvanizing adds 30–50% over black for the coating process
Standard lead time is 15–30 days for stocked sizes in standard grades. Custom lengths, special grades or large quantities may require 30–60 days. Hot-dip galvanizing adds 10–15 days to lead time. International shipping adds 20–40 days depending on destination port.
Need carbon steel T-bars for your project? Huaxia Steel supplies T 20 to T 140 T-bars in EN 10025, ASTM A36 / A572, JIS G3101 and GB/T grades, with full MTC 3.1 / 3.2 certification and SGS / BV / TUV inspection. Email [email protected] with your grade, size, length, quantity and delivery destination, and we will respond with a mill-direct quotation within 24 hours.
