how i design beam
Designing a beam is a critical task in structural engineering that ensures
the safety and stability of buildings and other structures. This guide will
walk you through the fundamental steps and considerations involved in
designing a beam, providing a comprehensive overview for aspiring
engineers and construction professionals.
Understanding the Basics of Beam Design
A beam is a structural element that primarily resists loads applied laterally
to its axis. Its main function is to transfer these loads to its supports, which
can be columns, walls, or other beams. The design process involves
determining the appropriate size, shape, and material of a beam to ensure
it can safely carry the anticipated loads without excessive bending or
failure.
Step 1: Identify the Beam Type and Support Conditions
The first step is to determine the type of beam and how it will be supported.
The support conditions are crucial as they dictate how the beam will
behave under load. Common types of beams include:
Simply Supported Beam: Supported at both ends, with one end
being a pinned support (allowing rotation) and the other a roller
support (allowing rotation and horizontal movement).
Cantilever Beam: Fixed at one end and free at the other.
Continuous Beam: A beam that extends over more than two
supports.
Fixed Beam: Supported at both ends with fixed supports that prevent
both rotation and movement.
Overhanging Beam: A beam that extends beyond one or both of its
supports.
Step 2: Determine the Loads Acting on the Beam
Accurately calculating the loads that a beam will carry is a critical part of
the design process. These loads are generally categorized as:
Dead Loads (DL): These are permanent loads that include the self-
weight of the beam, as well as the weight of other permanent
structural elements it supports, such as slabs, walls, and finishes.
Live Loads (LL): These are temporary or movable loads, such as the
weight of occupants, furniture, equipment, and stored materials. The
values for live loads are typically specified in building codes based on
the intended use of the structure. In India, IS 875 (Part 2) provides
guidance on live loads.
Environmental Loads: These include snow loads, wind loads, and
seismic (earthquake) loads, which vary depending on the geographical
location of the structure. For design in India, IS 875 (Part 3) is used for
wind loads and IS 1893 for earthquake loads.
The total load on the beam is a combination of these different load types,
often multiplied by load factors as specified in the relevant design codes to
ensure a margin of safety.
Step 3: Analyze the Beam to Determine Shear Force and
Bending Moment
Once the loads are determined, the next step is to analyze the beam to find
the internal forces acting on it. The two primary internal forces that are
critical for beam design are:
Shear Force (V): The internal force that acts perpendicular to the axis
of the beam. It is a measure of the tendency for one part of the beam
to slide past the other.
Bending Moment (M): The internal moment that causes the beam to
bend. It is a measure of the turning effect of the forces on a segment
of the beam.
Shear force and bending moment diagrams (SFD and BMD) are graphical
representations of the variation of these forces along the length of the
beam. These diagrams help to identify the locations of maximum shear
force and maximum bending moment, which are critical for the design.
For standard cases of loading and support conditions, formulas are readily
available to calculate the maximum shear force and bending moment. For
more complex scenarios, structural analysis software is often used.
Step 4: Select the Material and Cross-Sectional Shape
The choice of material and the shape of the beam's cross-section are
interdependent and have a significant impact on its strength and stiffness.
Material: Common materials for beams include:
Reinforced Concrete (RC): A composite material where
concrete's high compressive strength is combined with steel's
high tensile strength.
Steel: Offers high strength-to-weight ratio and is commonly used
in various shapes like I-beams, H-beams, and channels.
Timber: A traditional building material, still used in residential and
light commercial construction.
Cross-Sectional Shape: The shape of the beam's cross-section
affects its moment of inertia (I ), which is a measure of its resistance to
bending. Common shapes include:
Rectangular
Square
I-beam or H-beam
T-beam
Circular
The selection of material and shape will be guided by factors such as the
magnitude of the loads, the span of the beam, cost, and architectural
requirements.
Step 5: Design the Beam for Bending and Shear
This is the core of the beam design process, where the dimensions of the
beam and the amount of reinforcement (for reinforced concrete beams) are
determined.
Design for Bending (Flexure)
The beam must have adequate strength to resist the maximum bending
moment. The design process involves ensuring that the internal resisting
moment of the beam section is greater than or equal to the maximum
applied bending moment.
For a reinforced concrete beam, the design involves calculating the
required amount of steel reinforcement (tension steel) to resist the tensile
stresses that develop in the bottom of the beam due to bending. The
fundamental formula used is based on the principles of limit state design as
outlined in IS 456:2000. The required area of steel (Ast ) can be calculated
using the following formula as a starting point:
Ast ⋅ fy
Mu = 0.87 ⋅ fy ⋅ Ast ⋅ d ⋅ (1 − )
b ⋅ d ⋅ fck
Where:
Mu is the factored bending moment.
fy is the characteristic strength of the steel reinforcement.
Ast is the area of tension reinforcement.
d is the effective depth of the beam.
b is the width of the beam.
fck is the characteristic compressive strength of the concrete.
For a steel beam, the design involves selecting an appropriate standard
section from a steel table that has a moment of resistance greater than the
maximum bending moment.
Design for Shear
The beam must also be able to resist the maximum shear force.
For a reinforced concrete beam, the concrete itself can resist a certain
amount of shear. If the applied shear force is greater than the shear
strength of the concrete, shear reinforcement in the form of stirrups (vertical
or inclined steel bars) must be provided. The spacing and size of these
stirrups are calculated based on the excess shear force that needs to be
resisted, following the guidelines in IS 456:2000.
The nominal shear stress (τv ) is calculated as:
Vu
τv =
b⋅d
Where Vu is the factored shear force. This is then compared with the
design shear strength of the concrete to determine the need for shear
reinforcement.
Step 6: Check for Deflection and Other Serviceability
Requirements
A safe beam is not only strong enough but also stiff enough to prevent
excessive deflection under load. Large deflections can damage non-
structural elements like partitions and flooring and can be aesthetically
unpleasing.
The calculated deflection of the beam under service loads should be less
than the allowable deflection limits specified in the design codes (e.g., IS
456:2000). The deflection (δ ) of a beam is dependent on the load, span,
support conditions, and the flexural rigidity (EI ) of the beam, where E is
the modulus of elasticity of the material and I is the moment of inertia of
the cross-section.
For example, the maximum deflection for a simply supported beam with a
uniformly distributed load is given by:
5 ⋅ w ⋅ L4
δmax =
384 ⋅ E ⋅ I
Where:
w is the uniformly distributed load.
L is the span of the beam.
Other serviceability requirements, such as crack control in concrete beams,
also need to be checked to ensure the long-term durability of the structure.
By following these fundamental steps and adhering to the relevant design
codes and standards, engineers can design beams that are safe, efficient,
and durable. For any real-world application, it is imperative to consult with a
qualified structural engineer.
