What is a primary advantage of using I-beam and bulb-beam designs?

The primary advantage of using I-beam and bulb-beam designs lies in their efficient and economical use of material. These beam types are engineered to provide high strength with minimal material, allowing them to support substantial loads while remaining lightweight. This efficiency translates to reduced material costs during production and construction, as less raw material is required to achieve the same structural performance. Additionally, because of their shape, I-beams and bulb-beams are particularly effective at distributing stresses, which enhances their load-bearing capacity without a significant increase in weight or cost.

While other factors such as aesthetic value, transportability, and design flexibility might offer some advantages in specific contexts or applications, they are secondary when comparing the fundamental benefits of material efficiency and economy in structural applications of these beam designs.