Pacific Roll specializes in rolling structural steel beams including wide flange, standard, and miscellaneous sections up to 36 inches in depth. We roll beams the strong way and the weak way depending on the structural and geometric requirements of the project. Our proprietary tooling constrains the flanges and web throughout the roll, preventing the flange spread and web distortion that are the most common failure modes when rolling deep sections without proper support.

Curved beams rolled the strong way — bending about the strong axis so the beam curves in the plane of its depth — are the backbone of arched roof structures, long-span curved canopies, and barrel vault framing. In these applications the beam must carry significant vertical load while following a precise radius, and any distortion in the web or flanges compromises both the structural capacity and the fit-up at connections. Stadiums, arenas, and convention centers routinely specify strong-way curved beams for their roof framing because the geometry demands a continuous curve rather than a series of straight segments.

Curved beams rolled the weak way — bending about the weak axis so the beam curves in the plan view — are used extensively in curved curtain wall systems, circular and elliptical building perimeters, curved mezzanine edges, and helical stair stringers. Architects specify weak-way curved beams when the building footprint follows a curve and the structural framing must follow the facade line. Shopping centers, airports, hospitals, and corporate campuses with curved facades all rely on weak-way rolled beams to carry floor loads and support cladding along the curved perimeter.

Beyond buildings, rolled beams appear in a wide range of industrial and infrastructure applications. Bridge fabricators use curved beams for horizontally curved girder bridges where the roadway alignment follows a curve and straight girders cannot be used. Industrial plant designers use curved beams for circular equipment platforms, pipe rack headers that follow a curved plant layout, and overhead crane runways that serve circular or semicircular work areas. Theme park and entertainment venue designers use them for ride structures, show set framing, and architectural feature elements where the geometry is driven by the guest experience rather than a rectilinear grid.

Shipbuilders and offshore platform fabricators use rolled beams for curved deck framing, hull stiffeners, and structural ring frames where the section must follow the hull form. Solar and utility-scale energy projects use curved beams for tracking array support structures and substation equipment frames. Wherever a structure departs from straight lines, a rolled beam is almost always the most efficient and cost-effective solution compared to fabricating a curve from straight segments with welded splice plates.

Send us your beam designation, radius, arc length, and quantity for a prompt quote.