One of the most critical structural elements used in the construction world is the construction beam. Understanding their different types, functionalities, and physics is vital to selecting the right one for any building or remodeling assignment.
What Are Construction Beams?
Construction beams, typically horizontal structural elements, play a crucial role in resisting vertical loads, shear stresses, and bending moments. They used to be primarily made of wood, but now, construction beams come in steel, concrete, or a combination of materials. They also have various cross-sectional forms like square, circular, rectangular, and more.
Construction beams serve as load-bearing structures, transferring the loads of floors, roofs, and ceilings onto the columns to which they are attached. Here are some types of beams used in construction:
- Fixed Beam
The fixed beam is anchored at both ends and primarily deployed in trusses and similar structures. They resist vertical or rotational movement and are primarily subject to shear force.
- Cantilever Beam
Cantilever beams extend from a flat, vertical surface from one end, often constructed as a beam, slab, plate, or truss. They are used primarily in infrastructures such as cantilever bridges and balconies.
- Continuous Beams
For improved stability, these beams are made continuous over supports. Continuous provide an alternative load path in failure cases and work well for buildings and bridges in seismically-prone areas.
- Reinforced Concrete Beam
Reinforced concrete beams, or RCC beams, withstand tensile stresses and support transverse external loads. They transfer the loads onto columns in a structure.
- Timber Beam
Being readily available and hence one of the earliest construction materials, Timber is still used to build timber post and beam constructions.
- Steel Beam
Steel beams created with molten steel poured into molds and rolled out to withstand heavy loads. They enjoy high strength and durability and are used in various construction projects— buildings, steel roof trusses, hangars, workshops, bridges, etc.
- T Beam
A T-beam is formed due to its monolithic structure with a slab and rib. The section of concrete immediately above it bears little compressive force.
- Composite Beams
Composite beams are constructed with two or more materials with different elasticity modulus and offer improved strength or stiffness. I-beams with a plywood web and solid wood flanges are common composite beams.
- Simply Supported Beam
These beams are supported by two supports with no restraints against horizontal movement. Beams in structures, bridges, and machine tool beds are examples of simply supported beams with point loadings.
Construction beams are the indispensable elements in most constructed edifices. From homes to bridges to bolt-up buildings, understanding the types of construction beams is critical to ensure their safety and sturdiness. At Whitt Building Supplies, you can trust us to provide top-quality construction beams and structural supplies for your projects in Central Texas. Contact us today to learn more.
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