Example 4: Continuous beam

Example 4: Steel beam of 2 spans

This example will take you systematically through the creation of a 2-span steel beam. This example
will be most effective if you practice the illustrated skills as they are presented.
The structure to be entered is a simple steel beam loaded with two concentrated loads located at the
midpoint of the first span and at the far quarter point of the second span as illustrated:

1) Starting a new structure

Select the button to create a New Continuous Beam.

In case of an existing model is open, Continuous Beam will ask you to save it.
Once the new file is open, you proceed to the introduction of data in the left window, following the
order that is shown next.
Note.- The following example and the assumed values are simply illustrative.

2) Entering units
Select with the mouse the option Units system. This action will allow the drop-down menu to be
enabled.

Display the lash and select the English units system.

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Example 4: Continuous beam

3) Entering geometry
Next, go to the option Geometry. This and the other files can be displayed or hidden for the user
comfort.

Enter the number of spans: 2

As you will see the spans were generated.
Next, go to the option Spans of equal length. In this case the spans will have different lengths.
Therefore select the option No.

Select the option No.

Immediately you will see in the right top window the following message: "Span length should be
greater than zero" since it is necessary to define the lengths.
Therefore, go to the option Lengths. A spreadsheet will appear, in which you will be able to enter the
lengths for the corresponding spans.

Enter 20 and 15 ft. Press OK.

Note.- Remember that you can edit the cells of the spreadsheet any time that you want, or you can
use the button to undo the changes.
Next, press the Same material for all spans option.

Select Yes.
Go to the Material option, you will find a menu with all the available materials in the program. For
the example, try Steel A992 Gr50.

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 Example 4: Continuous beam

Select the material: Steel and A992 Gr50. Press OK.

Then press the option Same section for all spans.

Select Yes.
Next, click in Section. You will obtain a menu with all the available sections in the database. Every
time you select a section type, you will see its different dimensions.

Look for the section type W, select the section W6X20 and press the OK button.
Note.- When there is more than one selection, select the material, section or others and press the
button to assign or double-click on the same one.
Go to the option Code design in which you will find 3 design codes: ASD (Allowable Stress Design),
LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design) or BS 5950 (only for steel members).

Choose the code design: LRFD.

4) Assigning restraints
Next, go to the option Restraints and Use same restriction.

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Example 4: Continuous beam

Select Yes
To assign the restrictions go to the option Type and select the restriction type. It is not necessary to
first select the nodes in the graph.

Select Pinned.
Note.- When the restrictions are different, you will find a spreadsheet in the Type option, which by
pressing twice in the cells with the mouse, you will have 5 possible restrictions to choose.

Leave the option Cantilever end as it is because this beam example doesn't present a cantilever.

5) Entering loads
In this example, a concentrated load of 7 Kips will be introduced in the direction of the negative
vertical axis (Y) as Dead load. Additionally, a concentrated force of 8 Kips of Live load will be
applied.
To assign loads, follow the following steps:

Select a Concentrated load in the Dead load option.

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 Example 4: Continuous beam

Press the button and introduce the data as shown in the figure. Then press OK.
Note.- The value of the load should be input without a sign . The sign will be given by the direction
Downward or Upwards.
The distance to the load can be assigned as a magnitude or percentage of the total length, according to
the user’s preference.

Press OK again.
In this example, the self-weight won't be considered.

Select the option No.

We will follow the same procedure to assign a concentrated live load as shown in the figure.

Select Concentrated load.

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Example 4: Continuous beam

Press the button and enter the data like it is shown in the figure. Then press OK.

Press OK again.

Leave number by default.

6) Generating load combinations

The program provides the different load combinations for each code for both service and design
combinations. The user will be able to load these combinations automatically or program them
manually.

Press the button to generate the load combinations.

Press the button to open a file and select the load combination according to the code. In this
case select AISC-LRFD-LoadCombosService and press Open.
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 Example 4: Continuous beam

Press OK.

Keep selected combos and press OK.

A message will appear with the number of generated load combinations. Press OK.
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Example 4: Continuous beam

All generated loads will be visible at the top of the spreadsheet.

Do the same procedure for design combinations.

7) Assigning design data

Change the value to 180.

Leave data as default data.

8) Seeing results graphically

Once you finished the data introduction, you are ready to see the analysis and design results.
It is recommended that the user examine the results with the example: “Example 5 Steel.RCB” that
comes with the program. After analyzing the beam, check the data input that was previously
explained. If there are differences in the results, please check the input data.

To see the stress diagrams:

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 Example 4: Continuous beam

Press the button .

In the screen you will see shear and moment diagrams for the current load condition.
If you want to see the results for another load condition:

Select the load condition for the results that you want to see.
Note.- These diagrams can be exported to a CAD program as follows:

Press the button , name the file, and save it.

Then open the file from a CAD program, and you will obtain the saved diagrams.

9) Seeing the report

The whole data and result set can be seen in the report:

Press the button

In the report you can see 3 big parts:

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Example 4: Continuous beam

• The input data of the beam is reported as: geometry, load condition, assigned loads

• The analysis results are reported as: reactions, member forces and inflection points,
deflections and envelopes;

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 Example 4: Continuous beam

• The design results are reported as: design parameters, verifications and calculated parameters.

The user can print the report by pressing the button .

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Example 4: Continuous beam

10) Design: Status “Ok” and “S.ratio >1”

After a detailed description of the parameters and calculation results, the report presents a status for
each span of the beam. It can be two possible options:
• “OK” when the element fulfills all the bending moment and shear Code verifications.

• “ratio > 1” when the element fails one or more Code verifications.

11) Design for reinforced concrete

Following the same steps of the previous exercise, we will enter a reinforced concrete beam of 2
spans loaded with distributed uniform loads as shown below:

Data:
L1=20 ft
L2=15 ft
f'c = 3000 psi, fy = 40 ksi
Dead load = 0.75kip/ft
Live load = 1.0 kip/ft
Section: RcBeam12X20in
Code design: LRFD
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 Example 4: Continuous beam

Category combinations: ACI 318

First, the user must enter the data remembering that the analysis will not automatically include the
self-weight. Then you will proceed to the introduction of data for design. As you can see, the
program presents an option to suggest the reinforcement. Therefore:

Select the option Yes for Suggested reinforcing.

Select the bar size #4.

Keep the default values.

Select the bar size #8.

Click on the value for the Distance from end of reinforcing to support option and enter 25.
Keep data by default

Once finished inputting the data, you are ready to see the analysis and design results as indicated in
sections 8 and 9 of this example.

12) Seeing detailing

After observing the stress diagrams you will be able to go to the Detailing option, where you will
find a beam reinforcement detail according to the design.

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Example 4: Continuous beam

Press the button .

As you can see at the left window, you have a spreadsheet where you can change the suggested
reinforcement. In the example, we have 7 #4 bars for top reinforcement. To improve this
reinforcement without returning to the initial screen of data introduction:

Press to change the bar size for the top reinforcing to #5 bars and keep the other values by
default.
Input again the bar size for the top reinforcing and stirrups. Change the data as shown below:

Press OK.
Observe that the reinforcement reflects the new value.
Note.- The reinforcement data can be modified by clicking in the spreadsheet of the left window as
follows:

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 Example 4: Continuous beam

Select the reinforcing to edit by clicking on its description.

Click in the cell denominated Qnty., change the value 4 to 2, and press Enter.
As you can see the number of bars has changed in the screen immediately.

13) Design for wood

Following the same steps of the previous exercise, enter a wood beam with 2 spans and loaded with
distributed uniform loads as shown below:

Data:
L1 = 20 ft
L2 = 15 ft
Material: Lumber - Aspen No.2
Dead load = 0.2kip/ft
Live load = 0.1 kip/ft
Section: S4S 8x16in

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Example 4: Continuous beam

Code design: ASD

First, the user must enter the data remembering that the analysis will not automatically include the
self-weight.
Then proceed to the data input for design. Therefore:

Go to Moisture conditions and select the Dry option.

Assign a value of 5 inches to the Notch length, 1 inch to the Notch depth and leave the other values
by default.
Once finished inputting the data, you are ready to see the analysis and design results as indicated in
sections 8 and 9 of this example.

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