l

U
L := x
M
0ft :=
Processing Data:
Factorizing Dead and Live load:
Dead load is multiplied by a factor of 1.2 and Live load by a factor of 1.6:
Pu P
LL
1.6 P
DL
1.2 +
( )
:= Pu 4kip = w U
LL
1.6 U
DL
1.2 +
( )
:= w 2.8
kip
ft
=
Solving for reactions using sum of moments and sum of forces:
EM
A
R
B
L
L
2
|

\
|
|
.
Pu L Uu
L
2
= 0 = R
B
L w
L
2

Pu L ( )
2
+
L
:= R
B
52.4kip =
EF
y
R
A
R
B
+ Pu Uu = 0 = R
A
w L Pu + R
B
:= R
A
52.4kip =
kip 1000lbf :=
pqbbi=_b^j=abpfdk=Eioca=jbqelaF
Problem Statement: ksi 1000
lbf
in
2
:=
Determine the lightest W shape of Grade 65 steel for the following
conditions: Assume UDL includes beam weight amd that there is
continuous lateral support.
Service live load deflection A
LL
L
360
s .
ksf
ksi
144
:=
k' 1000lbf ft :=
k'' .833333k' :=
P
DL
2kip := U
DL
1
kip
ft
:= E 29000 ksi := L 36ft := u .9 :=
P
LL
1 kip := U
LL
1
kip
ft
:= F
y
65 ksi := x
P
0.5L := x
U
0ft :=
M x ( ) V x ( ) x Pu x
P
x x
P
>
( )
+
if x x
U
< 0 lbf ft . if x x
U
l
U
+ > w l
U

l
U
2
x
U
+
|

\
|
|
.
. w x x
U

( )
x
U
x x
U

2
|

\
|
|
.
+

+
... :=
x 0 L 0.0001 L . L .. := x
max
25ft :=
Given
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
100
200
300
400
500
Moment Diagram
M x ( )
k'
x ft
1

x
max
0L > x
max
L <
x
max
Maximize M x
max
.
(
:=
M
max
M x
max ( )
:=
M
max
489.6k' =
x
min
0ft :=
Given
x
min
0L > x
min
L <
x
min
Minimize M x
min
.
( )
:=
M
min
M x
min ( )
:=
M
min
0k' =
x 0 L 0.0001 L . L .. :=
M
u
if M
min
M
max
> M
min
. M
max
.
( )
:= M
u
489.6k' =
Generating Shear and Moment diagrams:
V x ( ) R
A
Pu x x
P
>
( )
if x x
U
< 0 lbf . if x x
U
l
U
+ > w l
U
. w x x
U

( )
.

:= x 0 L 0.0001 L . L .. :=
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40
60
48
36
24
12
0
12
24
36
48
60
Shear Diagram
V x ( )
kip
x ft
1

x
min
25ft :=
Given
x
min
0L > x
min
L <
x Minimize V x
min
.
( )
:=
V
min
V x
min ( )
:=
V
min
21.6 kip =
x
max
10ft :=
Given
x
max
0L > x
max
L <
x
max
Maximize V x
m
.
(
:=
V
max
V x
max ( )
:=
V
max
52.4kip =
V
u
if V
min
V
max
> V
min
. V
max
.
( )
:= V
u
52.4kip =

w
h
t
w
:=
w
50 = p
w
3.76
E
F
y
:= p
w
79.42 =
Web_Local_Buckling if
w
p
w
< "OK" . "Fail" .
( )
:= Web_Local_Buckling "OK" =
Check Lateral Torsional Buckling:
u Mn u Mp = u Z F
y
= LTB if u Z F
y
M
u
> "OK" . "Fail" .
( )
:= LTB "OK" = u Z F
y
614.25k' =
Check Shear:
LRFD clause Sect. F2.2
u Vn Vu >
LRFD_clause if
h
t
w
2.45
E
F
y
s "OK" . "Stiffeners necessary" .
|

\
|
|
.
:=
LRFD_clause "OK" =
uVn 0.9 ( ) F
y
0.6 d t
w
:= uVn 273.78kip =
Shear if uVn V
u
> "OK" . "Section Not Approved" .
( )
:= Shear "OK" =
Check Serviceability:
A
LL
L
360
s
L
360
1.2in =
A
LL
P
LL
L
3

48 E I
|

\
|
|
.
5
384
|

\
|
|
.
U
LL
L
4
( )
E I
+ := A
LL
1.1939in =
Serviceability if A
LL
L
360
< "OK" . "Section Not Approved" .
|

\
|
|
.
:= Serviceability "OK" =
Choose preliminary beam section:
Assume compact section; then Mn=Mp (Since no LTB)
u Mn u Mp M
u
> = Mp
457 k'
0.9
> Mp
M
u
0.9
:= Mp 544k' =
Determine the required plastic section modulus Zx from the maximum factored load moment Mu (k') using th
desired street yield strength. Select the closest W section that shall have Z value at least equal to Z_req. At
this point already we can actually use this relation in order to determine whether deflection issues will be
within limits.
I
min
15
16
L
2

8 P
LL
5 U
LL
L +
( )
E
:= I
min
1134.22in
4
= Z
req
Mp
F
y
:= Z
req
100.43in
3
=
Z 126in
3
:= bf 8.22in := tf .522in := I 1140in
4
:=
Try W21x55 Grade 65.
t
w
.375in := h 18.75in := d 20.8in := S 110in
3
:=
Check flexure:
Check Local Buckling:

fl
bf
2 tf
:=
fl
7.87 = p
fl
.38
E
F
y
:= p
fl
8.03 =
Flange_Local_Buckling if
fl
p
fl
< "OK" . "Fail" .
( )
:= Flange_Local_Buckling "OK" =
max)
x)