WOOD BEAM SIZING
Our best selling package, a complete introduction to structures, includes both a Basic module and a complete Professional package. Quickly get a feel for load paths, deflection, shear and stress. Immediately find out what works and what doesn't.
Print out all results and calculations and save multiple load combinations for each project. Includes wood I-joist selection, steel beams, LVL lumber and glu-lam beams. Also, size wood posts and concrete footings.
Here's the introductory Basic module, shown framing an 8 foot opening on the ground floor. If you aren't comfortable yet with determining the load path, just select the beam location. Note that the beam selected supports a quarter of the second floor and attic floor plus half of the roof. The program automatically selects two 2 by 10's to span the 8 foot opening. 4 by 4 posts are adequate.
Once you're familiar with the numbers, you can use the Professional Module. At the Loading window shown below, you can enter up to 10 different loads on the beam. This beam is shown carrying four loads. Load #2, a concentrated live load of 1,100 pounds, is shown. The maximum moment from all four loads is 17.8 kip-ft. The posts will have to support a total load of 4,466 pounds on the left and 5,272 pounds on the right.
At the Beam window below, you can experiment with different beam sizes. Note the loading diagram on the right:
- Load #1 is a uniformly distributed dead load.
- Loads #2 and 4 are concentrated live loads.
- Load #3 is a triangular live load.
The beam size is fixed at nominal 10 inch width. The actual dimensions are shown in the lower left corner. Fiber stress is 100% and shear stress is 73% of maximum. Deflection from the live loads combined is only 1 in 670.
Wood Beam Sizing provides complete what-if alternatives ....
- Easy to use, educational
- Up to 10 multiple loads at a time
- Prints out results and calculations
- Over 60 wood species and grades
- Includes Glu-Lam beams, LVL lumber and wood I-joists
- Selection of light steel beams
- Checks posts and footings
- Calculates cantilevers and concentrated loads
- On screen help with over 140 technical definitions and references
- Base values and adjustments from the NDS, National Design Specification for Wood Construction
- Custom adjustments for all wood types and all NDS values, including fire retardant lumber
- Complete user's manual and step by step guide (Adobe pdf file)
You'll quickly get a feel for what's possible and what isn't.
Size wood beams and headers, joists and rafters, wood posts and
steel beams and concrete footings ...
You make the choices: Wood Beam Sizing instantly gives you the answers.
Works with Windows 95 and later versions.
Download Wood Beam Sizing now.