SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM CALCULATOR

Simply supported beam calculator for force, moment, stress, deflection and slope calculation of a simply supported beam under point load, distributed load and bending moment.

INPUT PARAMETERS
POINT LOADS
Simply Supported Beam Point Loading
Param. Magnitude Distance
Load 1 [P1] *
Load 2 [P2] *
Load 3 [P3] *
Load 4 [P4] *
Load 5 [P5] *
CONCENTRATED MOMENTS
Simply Supported Beam Concentrated Moment
Param. Magnitude Distance
Moment 1 [M1] *
Moment 2 [M2] *
Moment 3 [M3] *
Moment 4 [M4] *
Moment 5 [M5] *
DISTRIBUTED LOADS
Simply Supported Beam Distributed Load
Param. Magnitude Distance
wa wb a b
Distributed Load 1 [w1] *
Distributed Load 2 [w2] *
Distributed Load 3 [w3] *
Distributed Load 4 [w4] *
Distributed Load 5 [w5] *
STRUCTURAL BEAM PROPERTIES
Param. Value
Beam Length [L]
Distance x
Modulus of Elasticity [E]
Distance from neutral axis to extreme fibers [c]
Second moment of area [I] **


Note : Use dot "." as decimal separator.


Note * : P is positive in downward direction as shown in the figure and negative in upward direction. M is positive in clockwise direction as shown in the figure. wa and wb are positive in downward direction as shown in the figure and negative in upward direction.


Note ** : For second moment of area calculations of structural beams, visit " Sectional Properties Calculators".

 


INPUT LOADING TO SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM
POINT LOADS
CONCENTRATED MOMENTS
DISTRIBUTED LOADS
RESULTS
Simply Supported Beam Deflected
Param. Value
Reaction Force 1 [R1 ---
Reaction Force 2 [R2] ---
Transverse Shear Force @ distance x [Vx] ---
Maximum Transverse Shear Force [Vmax] ---
Moment @ distance x [Mx] ---
Maximum Moment [Mmax] ---
Slope 1 [θ1] ---
Slope 2 [θ2] ---
Slope @ distance x [θx] ---
Maximum Slope [θmax] ---
Deflection @ distance x [yx] ---
Maximum Deflection [ymax] ---
Bending Stress @ distance x [σx] ---
Maximum Bending Stress [σmax] ---

Note * : R1 and R2 are vertical end reactions at the left and right, respectively, and are positive upward. Shear forces and deflections are positive in upward direction and negative in downward direction. All moments are positive when producing compression on the upper portion of the beam cross section. All slopes are positive when up and to the right.

Note: Stresses are positive numbers, and these are stress magnitudes in the beam. It does not distinguish between tension or compression of the structural beam. This distinction depends on which side of the beam's neutral plane c input corresponds.


Slope


Deflection



Moment




Shear Force


Definitions:

Distributed load: A load which acts evenly over a structural member or over a surface that supports the load.

Fixed support: Fixed supports can resist vertical and horizontal forces as well as a moment. Since they restrain both rotation and translation, they are also known as rigid supports.

Pin support: A pinned support resist both vertical and horizontal forces but not a moment. They will allow the structural member to rotate, but not to translate in any direction. A pinned connection could allow rotation in only one direction; providing resistance to rotation in any other direction.

Roller support: Roller supports are free to rotate and translate along the surface upon which the roller rests. The resulting reaction force is always a single force that is perpendicular to the surface. Roller supports are commonly located at one end of long bridges to allow the expansion and contraction of the structure due to temperature changes.

Simply supported beam: A beam which is free to rotate at its supports, and also to expand longitudinally at one end.

Structural beam: A structural element that withstands loads and moments. General shapes are rectangular sections, I beams, wide flange beams and C channels.

Supplements:

Reference: