What Is Corrugated Steel?
Corrugated steel should be used in container houses thanks to the “rippled” shape. It has substantially higher strength compared to flat panels. The fully loaded cargo containers are piled on top of one another for storage and overseas transport. That way they must withstand an enormous stacking weight that can reach up to 220 thousand kg (almost 500 thousand pounds). To accomplish this daunting task, cargo containers walls must be part of their structural strength. Corrugated steel profiles seem to be the solution of choice. As a matter of fact, square-edged corrugated profiles have some of the highest strength-to-weight ratios among construction materials. That’s what really counts for cargo
So Why Corrugated Steel in Container Houses?
With the capped Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) of 30,480kg (62,700 lbs), the allowable cargo (C) is determined by the container’s dry weight (DW) as expressed by the following equation: C = MGW -DW. With typical dry weights of 1-TEU container in the range of 2,300kg (5,100 lbs) the allowable cargo (load) is about 28 thousand kilograms (68 thousand pounds). Such structural strength is certainly not needed for customized container houses (even in multi-level structures). We can observe, however, that manufacturers still make use of corrugated steel for sidings.
Some of the reasons for such designs are:
- Aesthetics The pattern of vertical lineation, so characteristic for corrugated wall panels gives to otherwise modern structures of customized container houses often appreciated accent of “roughness”. By deflecting light, it also helps to mask walls’ imperfections (warping, dents, etc…)
- Increased strength The sheet of corrugated steel has increased strength in the direction perpendicular to grooves. It can be easily bent along lines parallel to grooves. However, it is very rigid in direction of 90-degrees to grooves. It’s of great value in the case of structures designed for industrial or construction zones (offices, security posts, workshops, etc). It is also good for temporary structures that will be moved several times from one place to another.
- Warping Corrugated sheets of steel have a much better ability to expand/contract (at least in one direction) than flat panels. While the latter may easily warp, swell due to changing temperatures, corrugated panels, thanks to their enormous tensile strength may easily absorb such stresses.
- Water channeling Corrugated roofs, on top of better protection against falling objects (branches, pebbles, hail, etc.) have also the advantage of channeling rainwater.
