ABSTRACT
A beam is a structural member subjected primarily to bending. Most beams are long prismatic bars with the loads usually applied in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam. A straight beam that is resting on two supports is called a simply supported beam. A straight beam that is rigidly held at one end is called a cantilever beam. Because beams play such an important role in the design of engineering structures, an understanding of the load-carrying capabilities of beams is important. A beam analysis first consists of the determination of all the external forces including loads and reactions acting on the beam, using static equilibrium conditions, and then a study of the effect of these forces on the bending deflections of the beam and internal stresses in the beam.
