ABSTRACT
Beams are the structural members that support transverse loads on them and are subjected to flexure and shear. An I shape is a common cross section for a steel beam where the material in the flanges at the top and bottom is most effective in resisting bending moment and the web provides for most of the shear resistance. The 2017 American Institute of Steel Construction Manual provides the design tables. A beam can be selected by entering the table either with the required section modulus or with the design bending moment. Considering both the lateral support and the compactness criteria, the flexural strength is taken to be the lowest value obtained according to the limit states of the lateral torsional buckling and the compression flange local buckling.
