UNIT 8 : BEAMS AND GIRDERS

PART 1
Beams are the horizontal members used to support vertically applied loads across an
opening. In more general sense, they are structural members that external loads tend to bend,
or curve. Usually, the term “beam” is applied to members with top continuously connected to
bottom throughout their length, and those with top and bottom connected at intervals are called
trusses.
There are many ways in which beams may be supported. The simple beam has supports
near its ends, which restrain it only against vertical movement .The ends of the beam are
free to rotate. The overhanging beam is supported at two points, but projects beyond or
overhangs one or both supports.
In most overhanging beams, the members are concave up to a certain point and convex
for the remainder of its length. The point or points at which the curvature reverses is the
inflection point. The distance between the supports is called the span. The load carried by
each support is called reaction. The cantilever beam has only one support, which restrains it
from rotating or moving horizontally or vertically at the end. Such a support is called a fixed
end. If a simple support is placed under the free end of the cantilever, the propped beam
results. It has one end fixed, one end simply supported.
The fixed-end beam has both ends fixed. No rotation or vertical movement can occur at
either end. In actual practice, a fully fixed end can seldom be obtained. Some rotation of the
beam-ends is generally permitted.
Most support conditions are intermediate between those for a simple beam and those for a
fixed-end beam. When a beam extends over several supports, it is called a continuous beam.
It frequently occurs in modern construction, particularly in reinforced concrete and welded
steel.
Reaction for the simple beams, cantilever beam, and beam with overhangs may be found
from equations of equilibrium. They are classified as statically determinate beams for that
reason. The equations of equilibrium, however, are not sufficient to determine the reaction
of the propped beam, fixed-end beam and continuous beam.
For those beams, there are more unknowns than equations. Additional equations must be
obtained on the basis of deformations permitted; on the knowledge, for example, that fixed
end permits no rotation. Such beams are classified as statically indeterminate. When any
distinction is made between beams and girders, the beam is the smaller member and may be
supported by girders.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the function of a beam?
2. According to the text, how many kinds of beam are there?
3. What is a simple beam?
4. At how many points is the overhanging beam supported?
5. What is a cantilever beam?
6. What is a propped beam?
7. What is a continuous beam? What is the continuous beam used for?
8. Which beams are classified as statically determinate and statically indeterminate beams?
9. When do we use girders instead of the beams?

ESP _ CONSTRUCTION _ 2014 58

 Look at this :

Fig.1 Simple beam Fig.2 Cantilever beam

Fig.3 Beam with one end fixed Fig.4 Fixed-end Beam

Fig.5 Beam with overhangs Fig.6 Continuous beam

VOCABULARY (review)
Exercise 1 : Word forms:

Verb Noun Adj Adv

continue continuity continuous continuously
……………… horizon ……………… ………………
construct ……………… ……………… ………………
…………… ……………… vertical ………………
sanitize ……………… ……………… ………………
…………… classification ……………… ………………
…………… building ……………… ………………
…………… civilian(civilized) ……………… ………………
(de)form form ……………… ………………
……………… formation ……………… ………………
Exercise 2: Find the words in the right that have the same meanings as those in the left.
1. ___ frame a. to consist of
2. ___ bear b. to gratify/ to content
3. ___ load bearing c. to be subordinated to
4. ___ construction d. skeleton
5. ___ to be composed of e. structure
6. ___ jointed f. connected
7. ___ girder g. concept
8. ___ pillar h. meet
9. ___ appropriate i. carry
10. ___ to satisfy k. structure column
11. ___ it is difficult to l. beam
12. ___ notion m. it is hard to
13. ___to depend on n. load carrying
Exercise 3: Find the word that is opposite to the underlined word in each sentence below
1. Beams are the horizontal members which are used to support vertically applied load
across an opening.

ESP _ CONSTRUCTION _ 2014 59

 2. In most overhang beams, the members are concave up to a certain point
3. A continuous beam frequently occurs in modern construction, particularly in reinforced
concrete and welded steel.
4. In statically determinate beams, reaction for the simple beams, cantilever beam, and
beam with overhangs may be found from equations of equilibrium.
5. The simple beam is supported at two points near its ends.
Exercise 4: Complete the following sentences:
1. Fixed-end beam
__________________________________________________________
2. Beam with one-end fixed __________________________________________________
3. Statically determinate beams _______________________________________________
4. Statically indeterminate beams ______________________________________________
5. Propped beams __________________________________________________________
Exercise 5: Cloze test:
Read the text above carefully then fill in each blank with only ONE word:
Statically determinate beams (1) __________ of simple beams, (2)________ beams, and
beams with (3) _________ . The equation of (4) _________ are sufficient to determine the
(5) ___________ of those beams. Not only the propped beams, (6) __________ beams, but
also the continuous beams are (7) _________ as the statically indeterminate (8)
__________. The equation of equilibrium of those beams are not sufficient to (9)
___________ the reaction. For those beams, there are more (10) ____________ than
equations.
Exercise 6: Translate into English, using some kinds of sentences:
1. Nhöõng boä phaän naèm ngang duøng ñeå ñôõ taûi troïng ñöôïc chaát theo phöông thaúng ñöùng thì
ñöôïc goïi laø ñaø (daàm).
2. Nhòp laø khoaûng caùch giöõa hai goái töïa.
3. Beâ toâng ñöôïc ñoå trong vaùn khuoân vaø coù hình daïng baát kyø.
4. Daàm beâ toâng coát theùp phaûi ñöôïc thieát keá sao cho khoâng nhöõng chæ chòu ñöôïc moâ men
uoán maø coøn chòu ñöôïc löïc caét.
5. Coát ñai (stirrups) phaûi ñöôïc neo (anchor) vöõng chaéc trong mieàn chòu neùn cuûa daàm neáu
khoâng seõ khoâng ñaûm baûo söï an toaøn choáng tröôït.
Exercise 7: Translate into Vietnamese:
1. A beam may be curved or bent if the supports are so arranged that the reaction at the
supports will be vertical for vertical loads.
2. There are two general classes of stresses set up in a beam by the loads, flexural (or
bending stresses) and shearing stresses.
3. Flexural stresses consists of compressive tensile stresses. The stresses settled up in the
beam by the action forcing on a horizontal beam, which tends to cut it along vertical
sections, are called shearing stresses.

PART 2 I. GRAMMAR: COMPOUND SENTENCES

Exercise 8: Put connecting words: after, before, when, since, until, while, during, as, so,
in the sentences:
1.______ the steel frame is being erected, the wall and floor units are fixed.
2. _______ does the architect give clientpreliminary plans?

ESP _ CONSTRUCTION _ 2014 60

 3. _______ building construction, several things went wrong ____ there are several
changes to be made to the bar chart.
4. _______ construction proceeds, the architect makes periodic inspections to make sure
that the building is being constructed according to his plans.
5. _______ visiting the site, the architect meets the client and discusses his requirements.
6. Why is the steel frame erected ______ the wall planks have been fixed?
- Because the wall planks are supported by the steel frame.
Exercise 9: Use conjunctions to make compound sentences: for, not only … but also, so,
and, but, or . . . or, both … an , either … or, neither …nor .
1. I caught a cold ____ I went to bed early.
2. We _____ sang all night ________ danced all night.
3. We rarely stay at hotel, ______ we can’t afford it.
4. Women live longer than men , ______ they take better care of their health.
5. Beams are structural members that external loads tend to bend, _______curve.
6. The overhanging beam is supported at two points; _________ projects beyond _______
overhangs one _______ both supports.
7. The propped cantilever beam is supported at two points ______ rigidly held in position
(bò giöõ chaët ôû vò trí ngaøm) at one of them.
8. For wind loads , building codes usually permit wind pressures to be _____ calculated
____ determined by tests on models of buildings and terrain if the tests meet specified
requirement.
9. Wind can create ____ positive _____ negative pressure on a wall, depending on its
direction and the shape and height of the building.
10. Are furniture, goods and snow dead loads ?
- I think _______ furniture, goods, _______ snow are dead loads. They are live loads.
Exercise 10: Matching the definitions on the left with the figures on the right:
1. Supports which allow movement of a
structure in a given direction are called
sliding or roller supports.

2. A simply supported beam in equilibrium

under the action of a force system

3. A simply supported beam with one hinge

(pin) and one sliding support. This type of
support, called a pin or hinge support.

4. Pre-cast concrete beams resting on the

brackets of a column.

5. A lintel supporting masonry above the doors

and windows.

6. A beam set in the pocket of a bearing wall.

Fig 4. 1
ESP _ CONSTRUCTION _ 2014 61
II. FURTHER READING SURVEYING
Before any civil engineering project can be designed, a survey of the site must be
made. Surveying means measuring - and recording by means of maps - the earth’s
surface with the greatest degree of accuracy possible. Some engineering projects -
highways, dams, or tunnels, for example- may require extensive surveying in order to
determine the best and most economical location or route.
There are two kinds of surveying: plane and geodetic. Plane surveying is the
measurement of the earth’s surface as though it was a plane (or flat) surface without
curvature. Within areas of about 400 kilometers square-meaning a square, each side of
which is 20 kilometers long-the earth’s surface does not produce any significant errors in
a place survey. For larger areas; however, a geodetic survey, which takes into account
the curvature of the earth, must be made.
Geodetic surveying is much more complex than plane surveying. It involves
measuring a network of triangles that are based on points on the earth’s surface. The
triangulation is then reconciled by mathematical calculations with the shape of the earth.
This shape, incidentally, is not a perfect sphere but an imaginary surface, slightly
flattened at the poles, that represents mean sea level as though it were continued even
under the continental land masses.
Questions:
1. What must be done before any civil engineering project can be designed?
2. What’s a surveying?
3. For what some engineering projects may require extensive surveying?
4. How many kinds of surveying? And what are they?
5. What kind of surveying measures the earth’s surface as though it were a flat surface?
6. How large an area can be covered by this kind of survey without a significant error?
7. What kind of survey takes into account the curvature of the earth?
8. What does geodetic surveying involve?

ESP _ CONSTRUCTION _ 2014 62