If you need support reaction at b, rb and support reaction at a, ra and you already have f1, f10, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6, f7, f8, f9, span, l, distance from support a, x1, distance from support a, x10, distance from support a, x2, distance from support a, x3, distance from support a, x4, distance from support a, x5, distance from support a, x6, distance from support a, x7, distance from support a, x8 and distance from support a, x9, this calculator does the substitution for you. It suits a quick check, a homework answer you want to confirm, or any figure you need to sanity test.
What Is the Beam Load Calculator?
The beam load calculator turns f1, f10, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6, f7, f8, f9, span, l, distance from support a, x1, distance from support a, x10, distance from support a, x2, distance from support a, x3, distance from support a, x4, distance from support a, x5, distance from support a, x6, distance from support a, x7, distance from support a, x8 and distance from support a, x9 into support reaction at b, rb and support reaction at a, ra, so you can order the right amount of material the first time.
Material estimates are where projects go over budget. Getting the quantities right before the delivery arrives is worth more than any discount on the order.
How to Measure for the Beam Load
Measure everything in the same unit and take the largest dimension you can reasonably use rather than the average. Formwork, ground conditions and cutting waste all push the real figure above the theoretical one.
Where a plan calls for a specific thickness, check it against local building regulations before you order. The calculator reflects the relationship, not the code.
Allowing for Waste and Errors
Order a little more than the calculation suggests. The gap between the theoretical quantity and what actually arrives on site is normally waste, spillage, over-excavation and uneven grading, and all of it comes out of the same budget.
Write the figures down and compare them with what you actually used on site. That is how you build an estimate you can trust for the next job.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with f1 set to 10, f10 set to 5, f2 set to 2, the calculator returns support reaction at b, rb of 500, and support reaction at b, rb (b2) of 505, and support reaction at b, rb (b3) of 605. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out support reaction at b, rb?
Enter f1, f10, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6, f7, f8, f9, span, l, distance from support a, x1, distance from support a, x10, distance from support a, x2, distance from support a, x3, distance from support a, x4, distance from support a, x5, distance from support a, x6, distance from support a, x7, distance from support a, x8 and distance from support a, x9. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports support reaction at b, rb and support reaction at a, ra.
What does the beam load actually calculate?
It takes f1, f10, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6, f7, f8, f9, span, l, distance from support a, x1, distance from support a, x10, distance from support a, x2, distance from support a, x3, distance from support a, x4, distance from support a, x5, distance from support a, x6, distance from support a, x7, distance from support a, x8 and distance from support a, x9 and converts them into support reaction at b, rb and support reaction at a, ra using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter f1?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Why does a small change in one value move the answer so much?
That happens when an output depends on a ratio, because dividing by a small number magnifies any change in it. Check the units first, then check whether the value you entered is in the range the relationship was designed for.
Do I have to fill in every field?
Only the fields a particular result depends on. If you leave one blank, the results that need it simply show a note instead of a number, and everything else still works.