The Steel Beam with Torsional Loads module offers the ability to analyze and design a single-span steel beam for applied loads that create shear, bending, and torsion. It can be a useful tool for situations where beams have concentrated or distributed loads that are applied eccentrically, or where beams are subjected to torsional moments.

 

General Data tab:

The General Data tab allows you to set the span length, and support conditions in much the same way that this information is provided in the other beam modules. Refer to the topic for additional explanation, but remember that this particular module is limited to single-span conditions. In addition to these pieces of data, the General Data tab also provides input fields for the compression edge lateral bracing condition, the design method, material properties, and an option to force the Cb value to 1.0, as shown below:

 

Beam Span Data tab:

 

The Beam Span Data tab is used to specify the span length, the allowable deflection ratios, and to select the steel section under consideration.

 

 

Span Loads tab:

 

The Span Loads tab allows you to specify loads on one span at a time. The behavior of the tools on this tab is very similar to the tools described for use in the other beam modules, except that it introduces the ability to specify load eccentricities and the ability to indicate that concentrated moments should be considered as torsional moments. Refer to the topic for additional explanation.

 

 

Load Combinations tab:

 

The Load Combinations tab provides a view of the load combinations that will be analyzed. It also offers the ability to:

 

 

Refer to the topic for additional explanation.

 

The Steel Beam with Torsional Loads module offers output options that are analogous to the output options provided by the other beam modules, with the exception that the results include torsional design considerations.

 

The lower half of the screen is dedicated to the display of results. The vertical strip of tabs on the left side of the display allow you to choose between Calculations, Sketch, and Diagram as explained below:

 

Calculations:

 

The Calculations tab offers four sub-tabs:

 

Summary Results: Displays extreme flange normal stress, extreme flange and web shear stress, extreme deflections, extreme rotations, and extreme reactions.

 

 

Maximum Combinations: Displays maximum stress ratio, extreme moments and shears, flange normal stresses due to bending and due to torsion, flange shear stress due to torsion, web shear stress due to bending and due to torsion, for all load combinations.

 

 

M-V-D: Summary:  Displays moment, shear, unbraced length, flange normal stress, flange shear stress, web shear stress, and deflections at small increments along all spans. Moment, shear,  and stresses are displayed for all load combinations.  Deflection is displayed for service load combinations only.

 

 

Support Reactions:  Displays support reactions for all supports, for all load combinations.

 

 

Sketch:

 

Displays a sketch of the beam, indicating span lengths, support conditions, and applied loads.

 

 

Diagram:

 

Displays a graphic depiction of the beam with superimposed graphs of Moment, Shear, Deflection or Rotation for a selected load combination, or for an envelope of all load combinations.