How do you size a structural steel beam?
Measure the distance in inches that you need the steel beam to fill. Write this figure down on a sheet of paper as your clear span for the beam. Measure the length in inches of the floor joist that the I-beam must support. Divide that number by two.
How do you calculate beam size?
The formula for the section modulus is beam width times beam depth squared divided by 6. 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. A 2-by-8 beam would be sufficient.
How thick are steel beams?
In the United States, steel I-beams are commonly specified using the depth and weight of the beam. For example, a “W10x22” beam is approximately 10 in (25 cm) in depth (nominal height of the I-beam from the outer face of one flange to the outer face of the other flange) and weighs 22 lb/ft (33 kg/m).
What is the size of a W12x26 steel beam?
Wide Flange Beam Specifications Chart
| SIZE | LBS/FT | FLANGE |
|---|---|---|
| W12x26 | 26 | 6.49 |
| W12x30 | 30 | 6.52 |
| W12x35 | 35 | 6.56 |
| W12x40 | 40 | 8.005 |
What does the W stand for in steel beams?
Lets start with the most widely used beam for structural steel. W-Beams, so called because they are technically known as Wide-Flange Beams, come in a wide variety of size from 4” tall to 44” tall. per foot of beam (ex. 8×31 is 8” tall with a load capacity of 31 pounds per foot).
What size steel beam do I need to span 30 feet?
If you have a 30-foot span, it is important to know just how long a beam you will need for support. There is a good rule of thumb for this: divide your span (in inches) by 20. So, if your span is 30 feet (or 360 inches) you would divide that by 20 to come to 18 feet.
How do I choose a steel beam size?
To calculate the necessary depth of a beam, divide the span (in inches) by 20. For example, a 25′ span would be 25×12 / 20 = 15”. The width of this beam would be between 1/3 and ½ the depth. The dimensions of a girder would be the same, but the flange would be thicker.
How do I calculate beam size?
What are the sizes of steel beams?
A residential steel beam is very common in most homes. Most are 8 inches tall, but 10 or 12-inch-high beams allow you to span greater distances with fewer pesky columns.
How wide is a steel beam?
The steel beam will span 25 feet, and it will have no additional loads such as wind or snow. The beam must be no more than 5 1/2″ wide, and it can have a maximum deflection of about 1/2″ in 25 feet.
What is the weight of a steel beam?
Usually this means the steel beam is very close to 8 inches tall and weighs 17 pounds per linear foot. This is a very common size found in many residential homes. But you can get 8-inch-tall steel I-beams that weigh over 35 pounds per foot.
What are common wide-flange beam sizes?
The standard method for specifying the dimensions of a American Wide Flange Beam is for example W 310 x 250 x 79, which is 310 mm deep, 250 mm wide and with a weight of 79 kg/m.