Table of Contents
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| Beam Bridge [1] |
What are Beams?
- A beam is a structural element that resists loads applied to the beam's axis.
- Beams primary mode of deflection is bending.
- Beams are built with supports which produce reaction forces when loads are applied to the beam's axis. [2]
Characteristics of Beams
General Terminology
- Span: The length of a beam from end to end.
- Height: The vertical length of a beam.
- Width: The length of a beam from side to side.
- Load: The force exerted on a beam.
- Moment: The rotational effect on a body produced by a force
Measurements
- Beams are measured through their; span, height and width.
Moment of Inertia
- The moment of inertia is dependent on the beams cross-section.
- It is a measure of the beams resistance to bending.
Bending Moment
- The bending moment occurs when a force or moment is applied at a certain distance from a reference point causing the beam to bend. [3]
Beam Deflection
- Beam deflection refers to how much a beam deflects from it's original shape due to loads applied to the beam[4].
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Deflection of a Beam [5] |
Reaction Forces
Supports prevent deflection of beams by producing reaction forces which counteract the loads applied to the beam.
| Forces Applied to a Beam Resulting in Reaction Forces [6] |
Types of Beams (Page Link)
Beams Use Cases
