Method & assumptions
How the beam analysis works
The calculator models either a simply supported beam or a cantilever fixed at the left end. Supported point loads and uniformly distributed loads are converted to the canonical SI model before the verified deterministic engine evaluates support reactions and the beam response.
Shear and bending moment are derived from equilibrium along the beam. Deflection is evaluated from the bending response and EI stiffness while enforcing the selected support boundary conditions. Multiple supported loads use linear superposition.
- Linear-elastic material behavior.
- Small-deformation beam theory.
- Prismatic member with constant E and I over the modeled span.
- Idealized simply supported or left-fixed cantilever boundary conditions.
- Multiple supported loads are combined by linear superposition.
Limitations
- No multi-span or continuous-beam analysis in V1.
- No triangular, trapezoidal or externally applied moment loads in V1.
- No geometric or material nonlinearity, plastic analysis, lateral-torsional buckling or FEM.
- No automatic section selection and no AISC, Eurocode, ACI or other code-compliance decision.
- Actual structures may require checks for stability, local effects, connections, load combinations and code-specific limits beyond this analysis.
Safety note: this is an engineering analysis tool, not a code-compliance or certified structural design check. Safety-critical decisions require review under the applicable project requirements by a qualified professional.
Worked example
- Beam
- Simply supported, 6 m
- Elastic modulus
- 200 GPa
- Second moment of area
- 85 × 10⁶ mm⁴
- Load
- 5 kN/m full-span UDL
Use the in-calculator ‘Load example’ action to populate this case and inspect reactions, shear, moment and deflection together.
Frequently asked questions
What beam types does this calculator support?
V1 supports simply supported beams and cantilever beams fixed at the left end.
What loads can I apply?
V1 supports one or more point loads plus full-span or partial uniformly distributed loads. Triangular, trapezoidal, moment and multi-span cases are outside the current scope.
Does this calculator perform a structural code compliance check?
No. It is an S2 engineering analysis tool. It calculates structural response but does not certify compliance with AISC, Eurocode, ACI or another design code.
How is deflection calculated?
The verified engine evaluates the linear-elastic beam response using the bending-moment relationship and EI stiffness, with boundary conditions for the selected support model.
Can I combine multiple loads?
Yes. Multiple supported loads are combined using linear superposition, so the model assumes linear-elastic, small-deformation behavior.