5.4 Beams
A beam can be defined as a structural member which is subject to forces causing it to bend and is a very common structural member. This section is about such structural members and the analysis of the forces, moments and stresses concerned.
Bending occurs when forces are applied which have components at right angles to the member axis and some distance from a point of support; as a consequence beams become curved. Generally beams are horizontal and the loads acting on the beam act vertically downwards.
Beams
The following are common types of beams:
• Cantilever (Figure 5.4.1(a)) This is rigidly fixed at just one end, the rigid fixing preventing rotation of the beam when a load is applied to the cantilever. Thus there will be a moment ...
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