How to use the Beam Load Calculator
- Choose the load type.
- Enter the span and load.
- Enter the material's elastic modulus E and the section's second moment of area I.
What does this tool do?
A simply supported beam rests on two supports at its ends. The load creates reactions at the supports, shear forces and a bending moment that peaks under a point load or at mid-span for a uniform load.
Deflection depends on stiffness: E is the material's elastic modulus and I describes the cross-section's shape. Deflection limits like span/360 are common in building design.
Why use it?
- Three common load cases.
- Reactions, shear, moment and deflection.
- Span-to-deflection ratio shown.
The formula
Point load at mid-span: M = PL ÷ 4, δ = PL³ ÷ 48EI
Uniform load: M = wL² ÷ 8, δ = 5wL⁴ ÷ 384EI
Accuracy and limits
- For learning and quick checks. Real engineering decisions should be verified by a qualified professional.
Privacy
The calculation happens instantly in your browser. The numbers you enter are not sent to our servers or saved. There's no account to create and nothing to install.
Last reviewed by the M2Toolkit team.