AISC Design Guide 7 Industrial Buildings Roofs to Achor Rods 2nd Ed Page 62

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=161806 Here's the listed advantages of simple spans: a. Easier to design. b. Unaffected by differential settlements. c. More easily replaced if damaged. d. More easily reinforced. Here's the advantages of continuous beams: a. Reduced deflections. b. Reduced end rotations and movements c. Lighter shapes.

But it also includes the provision that fatigue may be much more significant with continuous steel runway beams in that they have more "parts" that are in tension. I never use continuous runway beams. Simple spans have always been required in the industrial environments where I have worked. Although continuous beams may function well for light duty cranes, I still wouldn't do it. That's correct. that's because 1) negative moment may cause fatigue issue on the support connection 2) runway beam thermal expansion may be an issue if there is no gap at the support location