Calculate Size Steel Beam Needed For Bridge

To calculate properties of girder such as area moment of inertia geometric center and section modulus for both steel wide flange girder section and composite section with concrete deck.

Calculate size steel beam needed for bridge.

The formula for the section modulus is beam width times beam depth squared divided by 6. Choose an approximate size of steel i beam from a standard i beam table. 2 load details you need to know what type of load your beam will be supporting. If you re not sure what beam size to use just allow the steel beam calculator to select the beam size for you.

1 1 enter the steel beam span length enter the length of the steel beam. A two 2 by 6 standard beam has actual dimensions of 1 5 by 5 5 inches which would give a section modulus of 1 5 x 5 5 x 5 5 6 7 6 which is not enough for this example. We have learned from our experience to use at least a 3 1 4 x 131 groove shank nail in a column of four every foot apart down the laminate. The 2012 irc code calls for a minimum of a 32 o c.

1 2 select steel beam size select the steel beam size from the dropdown list. Once you have chosen the right shape of beam select its dimensions depth width and weight from the dropdown menu. The first input you need is the steel i beam load specifications or loading details on the steel i beam. Use a calculator to multiply the clear span by the length of the floor joist by the vertical load.

Divide the result by 1000 to get the figure in kips a non si unit of force equal to 1 000 pounds force and understand that 1 kip is equal to 4448 222 newtons. Draw bending moment diagram for the given loads and you will find the value of maximum bending moments say m that the steel i beam is expected to experience. You have a choice of w beams s beams or american standard channels.