Simple Beam Calculator

The Simple Beam Calculator command is available to be added to any Vectorworks Design Series workspace. It provides a quick way to analyze a simply-supported beam with a single load.

To use the Simple Beam Calculator:

1. Select the Simple Beam Calculator command from the appropriate menu:

●    Architect workspace: AEC > Framing > Simple Beam Calculator 

●    Landmark workspace: Landmark > Architectural > Simple Beam Calculator 

●    Spotlight workspace: Spotlight > Architectural > Simple Beam Calculator 

The Simple Beam Calculator dialog box opens.

2. Select the desired configuration, and then enter the values to be calculated.

►    Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Configuration	Select the simple beam configuration to analyze; the preview window updates to correspond to the selected configuration
Input
Units	Select Imperial or Metric (SI) as the displayed unit value
Beam and Load Data	Select Imperial or Metric (SI) as the displayed unit value
Beam Length (L)	Enter the length of the beam
Concentrated Load (P)	Enter the value of a concentrated load or loads
Dist. from end of beam (a)	Enter the distance from the end of the beam to the load
Distributed Load (w)	Enter the value per unit length of a distributed load
Beam Properties
Modulus of Elasticity	Enter the modulus of elasticity of the beam
Moment of Inertia	Enter the moment of inertia of the beam
Section Modulus	Enter the section modulus of the beam
Select Structural Shape and Material	Opens the Select Structural Shape and Material dialog box for selection of a structural shape, series, size, and material for the beam and axis about which the properties are needed (see Structural Shapes and Details). Click OK to return to the Simple Beam Calculator dialog box; the beam properties section is updated with these values for the selected structural shape, and the fields can be manually adjusted.
Solution
Reaction at Left End (rL)	Displays the reaction at the left support
Reaction at Right End (rR)	Displays the reaction at the right support
Moment at Left End (mL)	Displays the bending moment at the left support
Moment at Right End (mR)	Displays the bending moment at the right support
Max. Shear (vMax)	Displays the maximum vertical shear
Max. Bending Moment (mMax)	Displays the maximum bending moment
Max. Shear Stress	Displays the maximum shear stress
Max. Deflection	Displays the maximum deflection
at x (from left end)	Displays the point from the left end of the beam at which the maximum deflection occurs

Certain input fields may are grayed depending on the configuration selected.

3. Click Solve.

The results are displayed in Solution.

4. Click Close to exit the Simple Beam Calculator dialog box.

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Simple Beam

Simple Beam Analysis

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