How Steel Beams are Analyzed

Steel I-beams (or W-shapes) are incredibly strong and are analyzed based on their ability to resist bending stress and deflection. Stress is the internal force the steel experiences, while deflection is the physical amount the beam bends under load.

This calculator uses standard properties for common W-shapes and assumes a "simply supported" beam with a load in the center. The calculated stress should be well below the steel's yield strength (typically 36,000 or 50,000 PSI), and the deflection should be less than the span divided by 360 (L/360) to avoid bouncy floors or cracked drywall.

How to Use the Calculator

1. Select the size of the W-shape steel beam you are analyzing.
2. Enter the span of the beam between supports in feet.
3. Enter the concentrated load applied to the center of the beam in pounds.
4. Click "Analyze Beam" to see the resulting stress and deflection.