I-beam Container House

I-beams are not the primary structural steel used in container houses; instead, high-strength weather-resistant steel, such as Q355B grade steel, is commonly employed for the main frame. Here is a detailed introduction to the structural materials and design features of container houses:

Steel Selection and Structural Characteristics

The main frame of container houses typically uses high-strength weather-resistant steel, such as Q355B grade steel. This type of steel has a yield strength approximately 30% higher than that of ordinary carbon steel, allowing a single container to form a self-balancing system through rigid connections between corner fittings and side beams, even when the length-to-width ratio is close to 2:1. The longitudinal corrugated plates on the top of the container not only bear the roof load but also disperse stress through their corrugated geometry, preventing local buckling and eliminating the need for additional reinforcement, thereby reducing material usage by about 15%.

Envelope Structure and Thermal Performance

The envelope structure of container houses adopts a composite construction to enhance thermal performance. A common construction method is a three-layer composite of “rock wool-air layer-aluminum-zinc coated steel plate,” with the rock wool layer thickness controlled between 75 mm and 100 mm and a thermal conductivity limit below 0.040 W/(m·K). The 5 mm air layer in the middle suppresses convective heat transfer through a closed cavity, resulting in an overall heat transfer coefficient (U-value) below 0.5 W/(m²·K). This construction reduces the risk of condensation caused by temperature differences between the inside and outside of the container in low-temperature environments, extending the service life of the steel structure.

Connection Nodes and Seismic Performance

For areas with high seismic design intensity, container houses incorporate a dual fixation mode of “wedge lock + high-strength bolts” at container connections. The wedge lock is made of heat-treated 45# steel with a 15-degree inclined surface angle, producing a self-locking effect under horizontal shear forces. Actual tests show that this node maintains a small displacement range in shaking table tests simulating earthquakes, outperforming conventional welded nodes in terms of deformation amplitude.