At 500 degrees celsius (930 degrees F), mild steel can lose almost half its strength. However one important property of steel is that it quickly loses its strength in a fire. Steel in most cases performs far better in earthquake than most other materials because of these properties. Failure in steel frames is not sudden - a steel structure rarely collapses. This property allows steel buildings to bend out of shape, or deform, thus giving warning to inhabitants to escape. This means that when subjected to great force, it will not suddenly crack like glass, but slowly bend out of shape. The third characteristic of steel is its plasticity or ductility. It can bend without cracking, which is another great advantage, as a steel building can flex when it is pushed to one side by say, wind, or an earthquake. The other important feature of steel framing is its flexibility. This immense strength is of great advantage to buildings. We urge you to try this at home, unless you are married. 1 and a half London City Routemaster Double-Decker Buses.If you were to attach this bar securely to your ceiling, you could hang from it 20,000 Kg (which is 20 tons), or any one of the following: Take a circular bar of steel 1 inch / 25mm in diameter. Mild steel is a material that is immensely strong. Most steel construction is done with a type of steel called mild steel.
