2014

GoBeam Users Guide

Yakov Polyakov
Spreadsheet Solutions
Users Guide

4/14/2014

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Revision Sheet
Release No.
11.2
12.0

Date
12/15/2011
2/16/2012

12.8

11/30/2012

13.6
14.1

10/1/2013
4/14/2014

14.1
14.1
14.1

4/14/2014
4/14/2014
4/14/2014

Users Guide

Revision Description
Moving Loads added
Code in class module clsVehicle is revised to make worksheet function MATCH
compatible with Excel 2010.
Left aligned charts by moving vertical axis to the right.
Output of deflections changed to inches (mm) even if length units are ft (m)
Added user form to select the units. New option for moment inertia units
Change application of hinge type support. Selecting hinge does not eliminate
vertical support anymore.
The program will prompt to change number of span increments for moving
load analysis if current number is less than 20
Added a worksheet for custom structural shapes database
File format has been changed to *.xlsb No longer support compatibility with
Excel 2003
Foundation beam generator is added.
VBA changes to speed up GoBeam running on Excel 2013. Changing
protection.
Displaying springs for elastic supports.
Extended printing options
Improving GoBeam Toolbar

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GoBeam USER'S GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.

2.

OVERVIEW
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Program Capabilities
1.3 Program Limitations
1.4 Installation and System Requirements
1.5 GoBeam Toolbar

1
1
2
3
5

INPUT DATA
2.1 Workbook Organization
2.2 General Data

7
7

2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
3.
4.

Span Data Table

Support Data Table
Loads Data Table
Managing Loads

8
9
9
10

AVAILABLE ANALYSIS TYPES

12

MOVING LOAD ANALYSIS

4.1 General
4.2 Moving Load Analysis Step-by-Step
4.3 Pre-Defined Moving Loads

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14
16

5.

SECTION PROPERTIES CALCULATOR

17

6.
7.
8.

FOUNDATION BEAM GENERATOR

OUTPUT OF ANALYSIS RESULTS
STEP-BY-STEP EXAMPLE

18
18
19

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1.

OVERVIEW

1.1

INTRODUCTION

GoBeam is a MS Excel based software for the structural analysis of continuous beams with or without columns.
While creating GoBeam, the author, a practicing structural engineer, had three goals in mind:

Quick and easy input data allowing rapid, quick, interactive changes
Features capable of defining and solving real life engineering problems
Full visual and tabulated output for Moment, Shear, Deflection and Rotation

Features
GoBeam is a powerful and easy to use beam analysis program. It requires a minimum amount of effort to enter
input data and view the results of the analysis.
GoBeam has been created in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet; however, all calculations are performed using VBA,
which works behind the scenes without cluttering the worksheets. The VBA algorithm employs a finite element
analysis using the Displacement Method to find forces and displacements in statically indeterminate structures.
The analysis results have been rigorously verified and successfully compared to the results of leading commercial
finite element analysis software.

1.2

PROGRAM CAPABILITIES

MODELING

Supports SI and US customary units

Capable of analyzing continuous beams with up to 100 spans
Allows concentrated and linear loads
Allows free or fixed ends at the extreme left or right outside supports
Handles knife edge or column type supports
Capable of elastic supports (vertical springs)
Allows hinges (moment release)
Allows to model series of simple span beams
Allows variable moment of inertia within a span
Provides sway frame option (for beams supported on columns)

ANALYSIS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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Linear static analysis

Non-linear analysis of beams on elastic foundation (compression only spring supports)
Support settlements analysis
Computes influence lines of forces, deflections and support reactions
Moving load analysis

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PRE AND POST-PROCESSING

1.3

Saves and restores load cases

Combines loads into factored combinations
Computes maximum/minimum force envelopes
Allows entering formulas into input data fields
Convenient tool that calculates and assigns the moment of inertias of typical structural shapes and rolled
steel sections
Computes forces and deflections at any location
Genuine excel tables allow seamless interface with the user built material design spreadsheets

PROGRAM LIMITATIONS

Maximum number of spans 100

Maximum number of line loads in the Load Data Table is unlimited, but only first 100 will be displayed
graphically
Maximum number of load cases stored in database 20
Maximum number of load combinations 10
Gobeam may not function properly when more than one copy of program is open

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1.4

INSTALLATION AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

The spreadsheet has been tested to work properly using Microsoft Excel 2007 and 2010 for Windows XP and
Windows 7. Its saved in *.xlsb format, which shall be accessible using Excel 2003 as well (with installed
compatibility pack). To install, copy current GoBeam workbook into the working folder on your PC or in a network.
The Excel settings must be set to enable VBA macros. In Excel 2007, upon opening of the worksheet the Security
Warning will appear in the upper left corner of the screen. Mouse click on Options, then select Enable This
Content option on Security Alert Macro dialog box, press OK:

In Excel 2003 set macro security level to medium. Tools/Macros/Security.../Security Level/Medium, press OK:

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Restart Excel and select Enable Macros option at the prompt:

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1.5

GOBEAM TOOLBAR

Most, but not all commands can be executed using command buttons embedded into the worksheets. The toolbar
allows access to all commands and helps navigate through the pages of workbook.

In Excel 2007 the toolbar will be found under the Add-Ins tab of the main
menu.

In Excel 2003 the GoBeam tool bar

will appear just below the main
menu.

To restore the toolbar, open Macro dialog box (2007: Developer/Macros, 2003: Tools/Macro/Macros), type
CreateMenu in the Macro name field and mouse click on Run command button:

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TOOL BAR COMMANDS:

Analyze it! executes selected type of analysis

Analysis Type selects analysis type
Foundation Beam Generator wizard to generate a beam on elastic foundations
Change Design Units allows to select SI or US measuring units
Navigate worksheets allows access to workbook pages
Adjust number of decimal places opens dialog box controlling floating point accuracy of the numerical
results
Unprotect Sheet unprotects active worksheet
Protect Sheet unprotects active worksheet
Print opens the Print dialog box
Help provides information about GoBeam

GoBeam ToolBar with expanded Analysis Type, Navigate worksheets, and Help buttons:

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2.

INPUT DATA

2.1

WORKBOOK ORGANIZATION

Navigating around the spreadsheet:

2.2

Worksheet Input, enter beam parameters and loads containing the following data tables:
o Span data table
o Support data table
o Load table
Worksheet Sections calculates moment of inertia of various cross-sections and assigns it to spans or to
columns.
Worksheet Results contains tabulated results for a single load case static analysis or influence lines.
Worksheet Envelopes contains tables of maximum/minimum force envelopes.
Worksheet Graphs displays force and displacement diagrams.
Worksheet LoadComb is used to define load combinations.
Worksheet Trucks is used to define moving loads.

GENERAL DATA

Change units (Force: kip, lb, kN, N; Length: ft, in, m, mm; Moment of inertia: in, ft, m, mm)
Select the available US and metric measurement units for force, length and moment of inertia.
Modulus of elasticity (ksi, MPa)
Enter separately the modulus of elasticity for the beam(s) and for the column(s).
Number of increments per span (1 to 100)
Minimum recommended values are 8 for static analysis and 20 for moving loads analysis.
The program will create the specified number of evenly spaced points along the span to report the results.
Extra points will be added at the locations of concentrated loads. For spans shorter than half the longest
span the number of increments will be reduced proportionally to span length.
Number of spans to display
This option formats spreadsheet to allow entering more or less spans. It does not change the number of
spans in the model which is defined by the number of properly entered span lengths.
Sway frame
This option is applicable to the beams supported by columns. When selected, the frame analysis will allow
for lateral displacements, otherwise the model will be restrained from lateral movements.
Beam end restraints
Each end of the beam can be either:
Free free to move or rotate (typical cantilever end)
Fixed no rotations allowed. The vertical movement can be allowed by entering spring constant at the
vertical spring support line.

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Support either knife edge or column support.

2.3

SPAN DATA TABLE

Length
The length of each span must be entered in a row of consecutive cells without blanks between. The
number of spans will be calculated by the number of cells containing valid span length. To reduce number
of spans delete span length values starting from the rightmost column.
Moment of inertia
Enter moment of inertia for each span.
Entering variable moment of inertia within one span.
Define physical span length as a series of short spans and then set Vertical support spring constant for
intermediate supports to zero. Example below presents two-span beam having variable depth near
intermediate support. Each physical span is modeled as four spans with different stiffness parameters.
Note when support spring constant is set to zero the support symbol on the beam diagram is replaced by
the symbol of intermediate node.

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2.4

SUPPORT DATA TABLE

2.5

Support type
o Roller knife edge support with vertical restrain only
o Column provides vertical and rotational restrains. The spring constant KMz = 4EI/L
[force*length/radians], where E modulus of elasticity, I moment of inertia, and L length of
the column. Column can be specified below or/and above the beam.
o Hinge creates moment release in the beam. To remove vertical support set spring constant to
zero.
Vertical spring constant
Vertical elastic spring can be assigned to roller and column support type or to fixed beam end. Data
options:
a. No data in this field corresponds to infinitely stiff vertical support.
b. Zero value completely releases vertical restraint at the joint. This option is handy to specify
variable moment of inertia within a span.
c. Positive value [Force/Length] creates elastic spring at the joint.
Induced support displacements
This line of data is available only for Support Displacements type of analysis. Blank cell will be read as
zero value.

LOADS DATA TABLE

Loading Title is an identifier under which load case will be saved in the database.
Entering load case data
Each line of data describes a single load. The number of loads is unlimited but only first 100 will be
graphically displayed on girder diagram. Empty rows are allowed, the rows with incomplete data are
ignored.
Load Types
GoBeam permits three load types:
1. Linear Linearly distributed vertical load. Parameters:
WA, WB load intensity [force/length] on the left and right end respectively. Positive is when
acting upward.
LA, LB distance from the left end of the beam to the left and right end of load application.
2. P Concentrated vertical force. Parameters:
WA load intensity [force]. Positive is when acting upward.
LA distance from the left end of the beam to the load application.
3. M Concentrated moment. Parameters:
WA load intensity [force*length]. Positive is when acting counter clockwise.

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LA distance from the left end of the beam to the load application.

2.6

MANAGING LOADS

The load data table can be saved into the database as an independent load case. Later saved load cases can be
assembled into the load combinations, and force envelopes. Up to ten load combinations can be specified.

MANAGING INDEPENDENT LOAD CASES

Open Load Case Manager dialog box by using toolbar (GoBeam/Load Combinations) or by Load Combinations
command button on worksheet Input. Select tab Independent Loads.

To save current (displayed on worksheet Input) load case into the database click on command button
Save current loading. The load case will be saved under the name of its Title. Enter a new name in the
Loading Name text box if desired. If load case with this name already exists in the database it will be
overwritten.
To restore a saved load case, select its name from the list of Saved Loadings and click on the command
button Make Selected Loading Current. The load case will be restored in the load data table.
To delete load case from database select its name from the list and execute command button Delete
Selected Loading.

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LOAD COMBINATIONS

Defining load combinations

Prior to defining load combinations contributing load cases shall be saved into the database. The load
combinations will be defined in the table located in the worksheet Load Combinations. Left column
displays the names of saved independent load cases. The names of load combinations shall be entered in
the top row of the table. The factors for load cases will reside in the body of the table.

Analyzing load combinations

Open Load Case Manager, tab Combinations. Select pre-defined combination from the list and click on
Convert into loading command button. The command will create a load case consisting of all load cases
in the combination multiplied by appropriate load factors. The load case will be displayed in the main load
data table. It can be treated as independent load case, analyzed, modified and saved.

FORCE ENVELOPES OF SEVERAL LOAD COMBINATIONS

Open Load Case Manager dialog box, tab Envelopes. Select pre-defined load combinations from the list and
execute Analyze command button. One by one GoBeam will analyze all selected load combinations and will
compute minimum and maximum force envelopes. The results will be displayed on worksheets Graphs and
Envelopes.

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3.

AVAILABLE ANALYSIS TYPES

The type of analysis can be selected from GoBeam toolbar or from the list box on worksheet Input.

Static analysis
Linear static analysis will be performed for a single load case or for a number of load combinations if force
envelopes option is selected (see previous chapter).
Influence lines
When this option is selected, the dialog box will
prompt to specify section along the beam or a
support number for which to construct influence lines
of forces and displacements.
Support displacements
This option will compute forces in the beam induced
by vertical displacements at the support nodes. The displacements shall be entered in the support data
table in the row Induced support displacements. When support displacements option is selected, the
span loads will be ignored. The support displacement cannot be a part of static load combinations.

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Beam on elastic foundation

This option will perform non-linear analysis assuming only positive or zero vertical reactions at ALL
supports. This type of analysis is common for grade beams and line footings.
Moving load analysis (refer to the following chapter)

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4.

MOVING LOAD ANALYSIS

4.1

GENERAL

The moving loads simulate highway and railroad vehicles. Typically the design codes describe moving load as a
combination of truck and/or lane loads. The truck load comprises a sequence of liberally spaced axle (point) loads
which can be placed at any location along the beam in order to produce extreme forces. The lane load is a uniform
distributed load patterned in a way to contribute to the extreme forces.
Gobeam implements influence line based moving load analysis. First it creates force influence lines at each section,
analyzes them, and then places moving load in the most unfavorable location. The force due to truck is calculated
as FTruck = Piyi, where Pi is a weight of truck ith axle and yi is a value of influence line below that axle. The force due
to lane load is calculated as FLane = AowL, where Ao is negative or positive area of influence line and wL is the lane
load intensity. The figure below demonstrates sample calculations of maximum bending moment in the midspan
section of two-span beam.

Note that precision of computations depends on the number of increments within a beam span (minimum 20
recommended for moving load analysis).

4.2

MOVING LOAD ANALYSIS STEP-BY-STEP.

Step 1.
Step 2.

Define beam by filling out span and support data tables.

Define moving load.

The moving load (combination of truck and lane) must be saved in the database. Access worksheet Trucks
(Gobeam/Navigate/Moving Loads) and enter moving load parameters as demonstrated below.

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Step 3.
Save load into the database by executing command button Save displayed load. The new load
title will appear on the first line of Predefined loads list box.

Step 4.
Open Moving Loads dialog box (Gobeam/Moving Loads or command button Run). Select Predefined loads tab, pick desired moving load from the list, enter values for travel step and load
multiplier and click on Analyze button to run analysis. For HL93 select HL 93 Load tab, enter relevant
parameters and click on Analyze button. The progress bar will monitor processes. When analysis is
finished the program will jump back on Input page.

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Step 5.

4.3

Observe force envelopes on pages Input, Graphs and Envelope.

PRE-DEFINED MOVING LOADS

Gobeam comes with the database of moving loads from several international design codes. To examine load data
double click on the appropriate line of list box on page Trucks (see previous page). The loads can be modified and
saved under the same or a different name.

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5.

SECTION PROPERTIES CALCULATOR

The section properties calculator is located on the worksheet Sections which can be accessed directly from Excel
tabs, GoBeam/Navigate/Section Properties Calculator menu or by a co-named command button on Input
worksheet. The dialog allows to define typical beam cross-sections or to select structural rolled steel sections from
a few international databases. The figure below shows suggested order of making selections and entering data into
this worksheet.

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6.

FOUNDATION BEAM GENERATOR

This option helps to generate a beam on elastic foundation. It
generates a beam with equally spaced elastic supports and calculates
their stiffness based on the modulus of subgrade reaction. Open the
dialog box using GoBeam toolbar: Add-Ins/GoBeam/Foundation
Beam Generator. Selecting Generate new model option creates a
brand new beam with specified parameters. Choosing Update
existing model only calculates spring coefficients of elastic supports
based on the spans, beam width and modulus of subgrade reaction.

7.

OUTPUT OF ANALYSIS RESULTS

GRAPHICAL OUTPUT
The diagrams of beam forces and displacements due to single load case or maximum/ minimum force envelopes
can be viewed on worksheet Graphs. The worksheet can be accessed through GoBeam toolbar: Addins/GoBeam/Navigate/Graphs.

TABULATED OUTPUT

The tabulated results of beam forces and displacements due to static analysis and influence line analysis
are located on worksheet Results. The force envelopes of load combinations or moving load analysis are
located on page Envelope.
ANALYSIS RESULTS table lists the values for shear force, bending moment, deflections and rotations at the
number of increments within each span specified on worksheet Input.
ANALYSIS RESULTS AT CUSTOM LOCATIONS table lists forces at the user specified locations entered in the
left column. The values at custom locations are calculated by linear interpolation between the values in
the ANALYSIS RESULTS table. The section locations can be changed at any time followed by executing
click here to recalculate command button positioned above the table.
REACTIONS table lists support reactions and support displacements.
EXTREME VALUES table lists maximum and minimum forces and displacements in the beam.
Maximum/minimum areas of force diagrams are relevant when Influence Lines type of analysis is
selected.

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8.

STEP-BY-STEP EXAMPLE

This example demonstrates analysis of a 3-span reinforced concrete building frame for combinations of dead and
live loads. It shows in detail how to build the model, to analyze it for a single load, to create load combinations and
to compute envelopes of maximum/minimum forces.
Problem:
Find maximum/minimum factored forces in reinforced concrete continuous beam due to permanent uniformly
distributed load (1.4 kip/ft) and patterned distributed live load (0.6 kip/ft).
Parameters:

Spans 28+24+28
Beam is built integrally with columns (top and bottom)
Beam is restrained from horizontal displacements
Load combination 1.2D+1.6L
Beam effective cross-section: T-section, h = 24, bw = 12, be = 68, ts = 6
Columns are 11 feet long, 18x18
Use gross moment of inertia for columns and cracked moment of inertia for beams (Icr=0.5Ig)
Modulus of elasticity for beams and columns E = 3600 ksi

Step-by-step instructions
Step 1.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

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Enter beam geometry (refer to Figure 1)

Select design units (kip and ft).
Enter modulus elasticity for beam and columns (3600 ksi).
Set end restraints for left and right ends of the beam to type Support.
Enter length and moment of inertia of each span (I=1.0 for now).
Select Column type for all 4 supports.
Enter column length = 11 for columns under and columns above. For now, set moment of
inertia for all spans and columns to 1.0. Correct stiffness will be calculated in Step 2.

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FIGURE 1. WORKSHEET INPUT: SPAN AND SUPPORT DATA TABLES

Step 2.
Calculate and assign section properties for beams and columns
Access worksheet SECTIONS (by selecting sheet tab SECTIONS, or by clicking on command button
SECTION PROPERTIES, or using menu: ADD-INS/GOBEAM/NAVIGATE/SECTION PROPERTIES
CALCULATOR).
Set option button Assign properties to spans. Select all spans using check box.
Make proper selections and fill out data fields in the order shown on Figure 2. Note that multiplier 0.5
accounts for cracked moment of inertia (I = 0.5Ig). Click on the command button Assign Properties on
the bottom of the page to transfer calculated values of moment of inertia into Span Data table.
Set option button ASSIGN PROPERTIES TO COLUMNS. Similarly fill out necessary data (see Figure 3) and
execute command button Assign Properties to transfer values of column moment of inertia into Support
Data table.
Click on command button Back to Input Sheet. The data tables and model on worksheet Input shown
on Figure 4.

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FIGURE 2. WORKSHEET SECTIONS: CALCULATING BEAM MOMENT OF INERTIA.

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FIGURE 3. WORKSHEET SECTIONS: CALCULATING COLUMN MOMENT OF INERTIA.

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FIGURE 4. WORKSHEET INPUT: COMPLETED SPAN AND SUPPORT DATA TABLES.

Step 3.
Define independent load cases
Set analysis type to Static Load Analysis.
Now we will define four load cases named D, L1, L2 and L3. The first (D) will be a uniformly distributed
dead load (Load Type = Linear) of 1.4 k/ft magnitude (WA = WB = - 1.4) extending over the entire length of
the beam (from LA = 0 to LB = 80). Enter span load data (it takes a single row in the Load Table).
Enter D for Load Case Name and click on SAVE DISPLAYED LOAD command button to save it into
the database. Analyze the structure by executing ANALYZE! button. Select a type of force to
display a chart of.

FIGURE 5. WORKSHEET INPUT: INDEPENDENT LOAD CASE D.

Similarly define and save load cases L1, L2 and L3 as shown on Figures 6, 7 and 9 respectively.

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FIGURE 6. LOAD CASE L1.

FIGURE 7. LOAD CASE L2.

FIGURE 8. LOAD CASE L3.

Step 4.
Define load combinations
With all independent loads stored we will define load combinations. The load combination table is located
on worksheet LoadComb which can be accessed via main menu (Add-Ins/GoBeam/Navigate/Load
Combinations), using LOAD COMBINATIONS command button (Load Combinations/Modify
Combinations), or using Excel page tabs on the bottom of the screen. Well define three load
combinations:
ULS1 = 1.2D+1.6L1
ULS2 = 1.2D+1.6L2
ULS3 = 1.2D+1.6L3
Type in names of load combinations in the first row of the table and enter corresponding load factors of
the independent load cases listed on the left. Return to Input worksheet.

FIGURE 9. WORKSHEET LOADCOMB: LOAD COMBINATIONS TABLE.

Step 5.
Run analysis and review results

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Open Load Combinations dialog box using command button Load Combinations or via main menu: AddIns/Load Combinations. Select tab Combinations. Click on one of the load combinations in the list box. The
combination will be converted into independent load case and displayed in Load Table and on the graph.
Click on Analyze command button to perform static analysis for single load combination and observe
charted results.
Step 6.
Calculate force envelopes
Open Load Case Manager dialog box by clicking on command button Load Combinations and select tab
Combinations. Select Force Envelopes check box. It will let you select multiple load combinations to be
analyzed simultaneously. The resulting forces will be organized into maximum and minimum force
envelopes. Select all three load combinations and click Analyze button. Wait until analysis completed, it
may take a few seconds.

FIGURE 10. LOAD CASE MANAGER DIALOG BOX.

Observe force envelope diagrams on the chart. For complete graphical results access worksheet Graphs
(Add-Ins/GoBeam/Navigate/Graphs), for tabulated results access worksheet Envelope (AddIns/GoBeam/Navigate/Force Envelopes).

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FIGURE 11. WORKSHEET GRAPHS: MAXIMUM/MINIMUM FORCE ENVELOPES.

FIGURE 12. WORKSHEET ENVELOPE: FORCE ENVELOPES AT DEFAULT LOCATIONS.

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To compute results at custom sections enter X-values in the table on Figure 13 and execute recalculate
button situated above it.

FIGURE 13. WORKSHEET ENVELOPE: RESULTS AT COMPUTED AT USER-DEFINED LOCATIONS.

STEP 7.
Refine Model
If desired the model can be improved by modeling stiff beam segments within the columns width and
assigning foundation springs under the columns. Refer to Figure 12 for changes in geometry. Note that
intermediate nodes within a span were added by specifying roller type support with spring constant set to
zero.

FIGURE 14. WORKSHEET INPUT: REFINED BEAM MODEL.

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