How would rectangular HSS be designated?

How would rectangular HSS be designated?

• A. Height x Width x Thickness
• B. Width x Height x Thickness
• C. Thickness x Height x Width
• D. Height x Thickness x Width

Answer: (A)

For rectangular hollow structural sections, the designation is written as height x width x thickness. This convention lists the tall dimension first, then the other cross-sectional dimension, and finally the wall thickness. It helps quickly convey the cross-sectional shape and its proportions, while the thickness tells you how thick the walls are. For example, a designation like 8x4x1/2 means the section is 8 units tall, 4 units wide, with walls that are 1/2 unit thick. If the section were square, you’d see something like 6x6x1/2, where height and width are the same, but the order still follows height, then width, then thickness. Other orders would mix up which dimension defines the tall versus wide aspect and would obscure the standard way catalogs and specs present the shapes, so they’re not used.

For rectangular hollow structural sections, the designation is written as height x width x thickness. This convention lists the tall dimension first, then the other cross-sectional dimension, and finally the wall thickness. It helps quickly convey the cross-sectional shape and its proportions, while the thickness tells you how thick the walls are.

For example, a designation like 8x4x1/2 means the section is 8 units tall, 4 units wide, with walls that are 1/2 unit thick. If the section were square, you’d see something like 6x6x1/2, where height and width are the same, but the order still follows height, then width, then thickness.

Other orders would mix up which dimension defines the tall versus wide aspect and would obscure the standard way catalogs and specs present the shapes, so they’re not used.