Activity 3.2.

6 Beam Design
Introduction
Beam design is based on four important considerations: bending moment, shear,
deflection, and cost. Once the design loads have been determined and the beam
has been analyzed to determine the resulting internal shear forces and bending
moments imposed, a structural engineer can select a cost-effective beam design
that will provide sufficient shear and bending strength and adequate stiffness to limit
deflection to acceptable limits.
Beam design methods are dictated by building codes and standards and require the
inclusion of a factor of safety. Therefore, the beam design selected must possess
more strength than required to resist the imposed loads.
In this activity you will design floor framing (beams and girders) for a hotel.

Equipment

Pencil
Calculator
Computer with Internet access
Website: http://www.structural-drafting-net-expert.com/
Activity 3.2.4 Beam Analysis Short Cuts (completed)
MD Solids software

Procedure
The Partial Second Floor Framing Plan for a new hotel is given below. The second
floor will be used for conference space. Design the following floor framing members
for the hotel structure.
Interior beam
Exterior beam
Girder on column line 3
Girder on column line 5

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.2.6 Beam DesignPage 1

Criteria
The following data is to be used for design of the floor framing:
Dead load = 50 psf
Assume the weight of the floor beams and girders are included in the dead
load
Floor live load = 100 psf (HotelsPublic space per IBC table 1607.1)
Fy = 50,000 psi
The floor will support a plaster ceiling
Note: E = 29,000,000 psi for structural steel
1. Complete the following for each beam and girder using the Allowable
Strength Design method. You must show all work and include proper units for full
credit.

Calculate the loading

Create a beam diagram
Calculate end reactions
Calculate the maximum moment
Calculate the required nominal moment
Calculate required plastic section modulus
Choose an efficient steel wide flange to safely carry

the load

Check shear capacity

Calculate deflection limits

Check deflection using beam formula; if necessary,

revise member choice and recalculate deflection

Choose final design; prove that the revised choice is

sufficient to carry bending moment and shear
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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.2.6 Beam DesignPage 2

2. Check calculations for each beam and girder using MD Solids. Print out
the following:
Shear and moment diagrams
Slope and deflection (in inches) diagrams
Note: Be sure to choose your final beam designation in MD Solids before
producing slope and deflection diagrams since these values are dependent upon
the section properties of the beam. Use inches for the units on the deflection
diagram.

Conclusions Questions
1. If the beam loading and beam span is different for every beam in a
building, is it reasonable and practical to choose a different beam section for
every installation? Why or why not?

2. Aside from simply pushing the wrong keys on your calculator, what is the
most likely reason for an error in calculating a required section modulus or a
deflection?

3. Which structural steel section would carry the largest bending moment, a
W12 x 22 or a W14 x 22? Why? If subjected to the same magnitude of loading
over the same span, which beam would display the largest deflection? Why?

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.2.6 Beam DesignPage 3

Interior Beam
1. Include the loading and beam diagrams.
(6.67 * 50)+(6.67 * 100) = 1000.5
2. Calculate the end reaction and maximum moment.
1000.5*18/2 = 9004.5
(1000.5*18^2)/8 = 40520.25
3. Calculate the required nominal moment.
40520.25 * 1.67 = 67668.8175
4. Determine the required plastic section modulus and select an efficient
wide flange.
Zx = 16.2405162
W12x14

5. Check the shear strength.

13506.75
71460
6. Calculate deflection limits.
.9
.6
7. Calculate actual deflections.
.92
8. Select a final design.
W14x16
.79
.527
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Exterior Beam
1. Include the loading and beam diagrams.
6.67(75) = 500.25 plf
2. Calculate the end reaction and maximum moment.
(500.25 * 18)/2 = 4500.2
(500.25 * 324)/8 = 20260
3. Calculate the required nominal moment.
20260 * 1.67 = 33834
4. Determine the required plastic section modulus and select an efficient
wide flange.
8.12016
W10x12

5. Check the shear strength.

6,750
56,259
6. Calculate deflection limits.
.9
.6
7. Calculate actual deflections.
.7
.5
8. Select a final design.

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Grider on Column Line 3

1. Include the loading and beam diagrams.
18009
2. Calculate the end reaction and maximum moment.
18009
120120.03

3. Calculate the required nominal moment.

200600.4501
4. Determine the required plastic section modulus and select an efficient
wide flange.

48.144
W12x35
5. Check the shear strength.
27013.5
112500
6. Calculate deflection limits.
1
2/3

7. Calculate actual deflections.

1.06
8. Select a final design.
w16x31

.812
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.542

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Girder on Column Line 5

1. Include the loading and beam diagrams.
9000.4
2. Calculate the end reaction and maximum moment.
9000.4
60,032.668

3. Calculate the required nominal moment.

100,254.555
4. Determine the required plastic section modulus and select an efficient
wide flange.
24.0610933
W12x19
5. Check the shear strength.
13500.6
85,728
6. Calculate deflection limits.
1
2/3

7. Calculate actual deflections.

1.17 :(
W12x22 .976
.651
8. Select a final design
W12x22

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