There are many structures whose individual members are made up of beams. Some examples include bridges, skyscrapers, artwork, signs, parking covers, and even furniture. These beams are intentionally designed with different cross-sectional shapes to optimize both strength, and weight all depending on the type of loading condition they will be subject to. As an engineer, it is our responsibility to consider the loading conditions of the structures we design then to select from the available beam geometries a shape and size that will be more than strong enough to last.
combined cross sections.png
Common Beam Cross-Sectional Shapes
Statics allows us to quantify the loading conditions and use the support types to understand the forces and moments a beam must be designed to hold. Each symbol of a support type correlates to real-life connections that are commonly used in structural design. In some cases, support types that become too constraining create a statically indeterminant situation where statics is not enough to solve for the forces and moments on a structure.
Structures and Members
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Find a real-world example where beams are used in a structure and identify/discuss the following as they apply to your example
Beam type
Support types
Loading type
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A real-world example where beams are used in a structure is a bridge. In this example, the beam type commonly used is a steel I-beam. Steel I-beams are widely used in bridge construction due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, which allows them to efficiently withstand the loads applied.
The support types used in bridge construction include fixed supports and roller supports. Fixed supports are used at the bridge ends to prevent horizontal and vertical movements, providing stability to the structure. Roller supports, on the other hand, allow for horizontal movement of the bridge due to expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes.
The loading type that bridges are subjected to includes dead load and live load. Dead load refers to the weight of the bridge itself, including the weight of the beams, deck, and any additional components. Live load consists of the weight of the vehicles, pedestrians, and any other movable loads that are present on the bridge.
In the design of a bridge, engineers must consider the various loading conditions and select the appropriate beam type, support types, and beam geometries to ensure that the structure can safely support the anticipated loads and last for its intended lifespan.
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