Introduction to Structural Member

Properties
 What is a Beam?
• Horizontal
structural member
used to support
horizontal loads
such as floors,
roofs, and decks.
• Types of beam
loads
– Uniform
– Varied by length
– Single point
– Combination
 Area Moment of Inertia (I)
 Inertia is a measure of a body’s ability to resist movement,
bending, or rotation
 Moment of inertia (I) is a measure of a beam’s
 Stiffness with respect to its cross section
 Ability to resist bending
 As I increases, bending decreases
 As I decreases, bending increases
 Units of I are (length)4, e.g. in4, ft4, or cm4

In general, a higher moment of inertia produces a greater resistance to deformation.

Moment of Inertia Principles

Joist

Plank

Beam Material Length Width Height Area

A Douglas Fir 8 ft 1 ½ in. 5 ½ in. 8 ¼ in.2
B Douglas Fir 8 ft 5 ½ in. 1 ½ in. 8 ¼ in.2
Moment of Inertia Principles

What distinguishes beam A from beam B?

Will beam A or beam B have a greater resistance to
bending, resulting in the least amount of deformation,
if an identical load is applied to both beams at the
same location?
Moment of Inertia Principles
Why did beam B have greater deformation than
beam A?
Difference in moment of inertia due to the
orientation of the beam
Calculating Moment of Inertia – Rectangles

 b is the dimension parallel to the

bending axis
 h is the dimension perpendicular
to the bending axis
Calculating Moment of Inertia
Calculate beam A moment of inertia

1.5 in.  5.5 in. 

3

=
12
1.5 in.  166.375 in. 3

=
12

249.5625 in. 4
=
12

= 21 in. 4
Calculating Moment of Inertia
Calculate beam B moment of inertia
 5.5 in. 1.5 in. 
3

=
12
 5.5 in.   3.375 in. 3

=
12
18.5625 in. 4
=
12

= 1.5 in. 4
Moment of Inertia
14Times
Stiffer

Beam
A

Beam
B

IA = 21 in. 4
IB = 1.5 in. 4
Moment of Inertia – Composite
Shapes
Why are composite
shapes used in
structural design?
Non-Composite vs. Composite Beams
Doing more with less

Area = 8.00in.2 Area = 2.70in.2

Structural Member Properties
Chemical Makeup
Modulus of Elasticity (E) The ratio of some
specified form of stress to some specified form of
strain. E defines the stiffness of an object related to
material chemical properties.

In general, a higher
modulus of elasticity
produces a greater
resistance to
deformation.
 Deflection

 The beam will bend or deflect downward as a

result of the load P (lbf).
 The ability of a material to deform and return to
its original shape.

P
Deflection, Δ

L
 Deflection (Δ)
 Δ of a simply supported, center loaded beam can be calculated from
the following formula: P
Deflection, Δ
PL 3
Δ 
48E I
L

P = concentrated load (lbf)

L = span length of beam (in)
E = modulus of elasticity (psi or lbf/in2)
I = moment of inertia of axis perpendicular to load P (in4)
Modulus of Elasticity Principles
Characteristics of objects that affect deflection (Δ)

Applied force or load

Length of span between supports
Modulus of elasticity
Moment of inertia
Calculating Beam Deflection
FL 3
ΔMAX =
48E I
Beam Material Length Moment Modulus of Force
(L) of Inertia Elasticity (F)
(I) (E)
A Douglas Fir 8.0 ft 20.80 in.4 1,800,000 250 lbf
psi
B ABS Plastic 8.0 ft 20.80 in.4 419,000 250 lbf
psi
Calculating Beam Deflection
FL 3
ΔMAX =
48E I
Calculate beam deflection for beam A
3
 250lbf  96in. 
ΔMAX =
48 1,800,000psi  20.80in.4 

ΔMAX = 0.12 in.

Beam Material Length I E Load
A Douglas Fir 8.0 ft 20.80 1,800,000 250 lbf
in.4 psi
Calculating Beam Deflection
FL 3
ΔMAX =
48E I
Calculate beam deflection for beam B
3
 250lbf  96in. 
ΔMAX =
48  419,000psi  20.80 in. 4 

ΔMAX = 0.53 in.

Beam Material Length I E Load
B ABS Plastic 8.0 ft 20.80 in.4 419,000 250 lbf
psi
Douglas Fir vs. ABS Plastic

4.24 times
less
deflection

ΔMAX A = 0.12 in. ΔMAX B = 0.53 in.