Beams Projects

The Original Beam

• A precedent that displays the original interpretation of the beam is Stonehenge located in England. It is one of the most basic displays of a structural system and the loads applied and carried by the stones can be seen very clearly. There is a series of vertical columns with horizontal beam stones spanning between them. The key here is to look at the spanning capabilities of the material and understand its properties. Stone is a brittle material and does not span very well, so the columns are not spaced very far apart. By observing this, we can draw conclusions about the basic properties of such beams. While these beams are massive, they are still subject to bending under their own weight. Also, attaching secondary or tertiary structural systems to stone is labor-intensive and connections would be tedious.

Lightweight Wood Construction

• Small to medium residential and commercial buildings are typically framed using lightweight wood construction. This type of framing is most common due to the ease of erection and the easy manipulation of structural members. The idea is that a single worker can carry a 2-inch by 4-inch 8-foot length of wood by himself as opposed to a large piece of steel. Beams used in lightweight wood construction are typically 8 inches to 16 inches in depth depending on the span. Secondary beams, called joists, are hung perpendicular to primary beams and are typically much smaller in proportion. Joists are hung from beams using joist hangers which are steel plates attached to the primary beams with slots to catch the joists. The largest span of a structural wood beam is between 80 feet 100 feet. These beams are typically laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams. LVL beams are made up of many smaller pieces of wood laminated together to form one uniform member that is much stronger and can span farther than a single log.

Steel Framing

• Steel is typically used to frame larger industrial buildings that require heavier structural members for greater spans or increased loads. Steel is highly economical due to the fact that it can be mass-produced easily. Steel beams come in a variety of shapes, but the most commonly used member is the standard wide flange due to its high efficiency rating. A wide flange is known by most people not in the construction business as an I-beam because the shape of the beam is an extruded capital "I." These wide flanges come in a variety of sizes from about 12 inches in depth to about 36 inches in depth. Steel beams were originally joined to vertical columns using rivets, but in the 1930's, bolts became more common. Beams must also be welded to columns in most cases.

Hybrid Beam Systems

• Sometimes, there arises the problem of keeping a certain aesthetic while still achieving a certain structural part. In these cases, engineers and architects often look to composite structural members. One example of this is flitch plate design. Flitch plate beams are a composite of a steel plate encased in wood. The idea is that the aesthetic of thin wooden members can still be met if a steel plate is integrated into the beams for structural support. These unique beams look like they are made entirely of wood yet their connections are completely steel. In addition to added span, the designer also has more flexibility with how the members appear to the eye. There is the decision of whether to expose connections, hide the metal plate or make the members appear as seamless as possible. With new composite technologies like flitch plate beams, the designer has greater aesthetic and structural freedom.