FindingSteel Steel Sections MCP Server

An MCP server for Chinese (GB standard) steel sections: look up section properties and calculate theoretical weight for the sections used in everyday structural steelwork in China.

Built by FindingSteel — a steel structure manufacturer in Foshan, China — and backed by the same verified GB standard data tables used on our website.

Why this is useful

• GB standard data is missing from most MCP tools. Existing section databases are mostly ASTM / EN / JIS. This server fills the GB/T gap used across Chinese steel fabrication, detailing (Tekla), purchasing and structural design.
• Verified values. Every section comes from the GB/T standard tables (see Data sources); designations use the standard Chinese notation such as HN400×200×8×13.

Tools

Tool	Description
section_categories	List all section categories (HW/HM/HN, I-beam, channel, angle, C/Z purlin, square/rectangular tube) and total stored count.
section_search	Search sections by category or designation keyword; returns designation, standard, dimensions, kg/m.
section_lookup	Look up full section properties by exact designation: A (cm²), Ix/Iy (cm⁴), Wx/Wy (cm³), ix/iy (cm), kg/m.
section_welded_i	Compute welded I-section properties from plate dimensions (hw, tw, bf, tf in mm).
section_welded_box	Compute welded box-section properties from plate dimensions (h, b, tw, tf in mm).
weight_calculate	Theoretical weight for plates, round/square/hex/oct bars, rebar, pipe, square/rectangular tube, C/Z profiles, welded I/box, or standard sections (kg/m, kg, tonnes).
weight_materials	List built-in material densities (Q235/Q355, 304, 316, aluminium, copper).

Quick start

# stdio transport (recommended for local clients)
git clone https://github.com/FindingSteel/findingsteel-steel-sections-mcp.git
cd findingsteel-steel-sections-mcp
npm install
node src/index.ts

# or without cloning:
npx -y github:FindingSteel/findingsteel-steel-sections-mcp

Example client config (Claude Desktop)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "findingsteel-steel-sections": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/findingsteel-steel-sections-mcp/src/index.ts"]
    }
  }
}

Remote (Streamable HTTP)

The server also ships a stateless HTTP entry for remote deployment:

PORT=3001 node src/serve.ts
# -> http://localhost:3001/mcp

Examples

Find the weight of 12 metres of HN400×200×8×13, 4 pieces

section_lookup { "designation": "HN400×200×8×13" }
# -> A 83.37 cm², Ix 23500 cm⁴, Wx 1170 cm³, kg/m 65.4

weight_calculate { "shape": "standard", "designation": "HN400×200×8×13", "lengthM": 12, "quantity": 4 }
# -> total 3139.2 kg (3.14 t)

Weight of pipe 168×6 for 12 m

weight_calculate { "shape": "pipe", "dims": { "D": 168, "t": 6 }, "lengthM": 12 }
# -> 23.97 kg/m, total 287.6 kg

Design notes

• All dimensions in mm; density default 7.85 g/cm³ (carbon steel Q235/Q355).
• Section properties: A (cm²), Ix/Iy (cm⁴), Wx/Wy (cm³), ix/iy (cm), kg/m.
• Designations use the × separator (e.g. HN400×200×8×13); search is case-insensitive.
• weight_calculate accepts shape keys case-insensitively (rectTube = recttube).

Data sources

• GB/T 11263-2017 hot-rolled H-beams (HW / HM / HN)
• GB/T 706-2016 hot-rolled I-beams, channels, equal/unequal angles
• GB/T 6723-2017 cold-formed C / Z profiles
• GB/T 6728-2017 cold-formed square and rectangular hollow sections
• Theoretical weight formulas from the corresponding GB standards; density constants from common engineering handbooks.

The same data powers the online calculators on findingsteel.com/tools/steel-weight-calculator and findingsteel.com/tools/section-properties.

Development

npm install
npm run typecheck   # tsc --noEmit
npm test            # smoke + stdio E2E + HTTP E2E

License

MIT