Beam Loads - Support Force Calculator
Calculate beam load and supporting forces.
Online Beam Support Force Calculator
The calculator below can be used to calculate the support forces - R1 and R2 - for beams with up to 6 asymmetrically loads.
For a beam in balance loaded with weights (or other load forces) the reactions forces - R - at the supports equals the load forces - F. The force balance can be expressed as
F1 + F2 + .... + Fn = R1 + R2 (1)
where
F = force from load (N, lbf)
R = force from support (N, lbf)
In addition for a beam in balance the algebraic sum of moments equals zero. The moment balance can be expressed as
F1 af1 + F2 af2 + .... + Fn afn = R ar1 + R ar2 (2)
where
a = the distance from the force to a common reference - usually the distance to one of the supports (m, ft)
Example - A beam with two symmetrical loads
A 10 m long beam with two supports is loaded with two equal and symmetrical loads F1 and F2 , each 500 kg. The support forces F3 and F4 can be calculated
(500 kg) (9.81 m/s2) + (500 kg) (9.81 m/s2) = R1 + R2
=>
R1 + R2 = 9810 N
= 9.8 kN
Note! Load due to the weight of a mass - m - is mg Newton's - where g = 9.81 m/s2.
With symmetrical and equal loads the support forces also will be symmetrical and equal. Using
R1 = R2
the equation above can be simplified to
R1 = R2 = (9810 N) / 2
= 4905 N
= 4.9 kN
Related Mobile Apps from The Engineering ToolBox 
- free apps for offline use on mobile devices.
Example - A beam with two not symmetrical loads
A 10 m long beam with two supports is loaded with two loads, 500 kg is located 1 m from the end (R1), and the other load of 1000 kg is located 6 m from the same end. The balance of forces can be expressed as
(500 kg) (9.81 m/s2) + (1000 kg) (9.81 m/s2) = R1 + R2
=>
R1 + R2 = 14715 N
= 14.7 kN
The algebraic sum of moments (2) can be expressed as
(500 kg) (9.81 m/s2) (1 m) + (1000 kg) (9.81 m/s2) (6 m) =?R1 (0 m) + R2 (10 m)
=>
R2 = 6377 (N)
= 6.4 kN
F3 can be calculated as:
R1= (14715 N) - (6377 N)
= 8338 N
= 8.3 kN
Insert beams to your Sketchup model with the Engineering ToolBox Sketchup Extension
Related Topics
-
Beams and Columns
Deflection and stress, moment of inertia, section modulus and technical information of beams and columns. -
Mechanics
Forces, acceleration, displacement, vectors, motion, momentum, energy of objects and more. -
Statics
Loads - forces and torque, beams and columns.
Related Documents
-
Aluminum I-Beams
Dimensions and static properties of aluminum I-beams - Imperial units. -
American Standard Beams - S Beam
American Standard Beams ASTM A6 - Imperial units. -
American Standard Steel C Channels
Dimensions and static parameters of American Standard Steel C Channels -
American Wide Flange Beams
American Wide Flange Beams ASTM A6 in metric units. -
Beams - Fixed at Both Ends - Continuous and Point Loads
Stress, deflections and supporting loads. -
Beams - Fixed at One End and Supported at the Other - Continuous and Point Loads
Supporting loads, moments and deflections. -
Beams - Supported at Both Ends - Continuous and Point Loads
Supporting loads, stress and deflections. -
British Universal Columns and Beams
Properties of British Universal Steel Columns and Beams. -
Cantilever Beams - Moments and Deflections
Maximum reaction forces, deflections and moments - single and uniform loads. -
Continuous Beams - Moment and Reaction Support Forces
Moments and reaction support forces with distributed or point loads. -
Drawbridge - Force and Moment vs. Elevation
Calculate the acting forces and moments when elevating drawbridges or beams. -
Equilibrant Force
The force required to keep a system of forces in equilibrium. -
HE-A Steel Beams
Properties of HE-A profiled steel beams. -
HE-B Steel Beams
Properties of HE-B profiled steel beams. -
HE-M Steel Beams
Properties of HE-M profile steel beams. -
Normal Flange I-Beams
Properties of normal flange I profile steel beams. -
Square Hollow Structural Sections - HSS
Weight, cross sectional area, moments of inertia - Imperial units -
Steel Angles - Equal Legs
Dimensions and static parameters of steel angles with equal legs - imperial units. -
Steel Angles - Equal Legs
Dimensions and static parameters of steel angles with equal legs - metric units. -
Steel Angles - Unequal Legs
Dimensions and static parameters of steel angles with unequal legs - imperial units. -
Steel Angles - Unequal Legs
Dimensions and static parameters of steel angles with unequal legs - metric units. -
Steel Pipe Columns - Allowable Loads
Allowable concentric loads for steel pipe columns. -
Triangle
Triangle analytical geometry. -
Trusses
Common types of trusses. -
W-Beams - American Wide Flange Beams
Dimensions of American Wide Flange Beams ASTM A6 (or W-Beams) - Imperial units. -
Weight of Beams - Stress and Strain
Stress and deformation of vertical beams due to own weight.
