3/12/2015

What Is a Continuous Beam? (with picture)

wiseGEEK

F eedback

A bo ut wiseGEEK

clear answers fo r co mmo n questio ns

What Is a Continuous Beam?

Ads by Google

Beam Calculations

Cate gory:

Beam Design

Beam Calculator Steel I Beam Load

Industry

Beam Span

A continuous beam is a structural component that provides resistance to bending when

a load or force is applied. These beams are commonly used in bridges. A beam of this
type has more than two points of support along its length. These are usually in the same
horizontal plane, and the spans between the supports are in one straight line.

Ste e l B e am s
Conc re te B e am
B e am B e ndi ng
Canti l e v e r B e am
Conti nuous B e am
B e am Sti ffne s s
Struc tural Software

In contrast to a simply supported beam, which has supports at each end and a load that
is distributed in some way along its length, a continuous beam is much stiffer and
stronger. A bridge that is made up of beams that span between only two supports is
called a simply supported beam bridge. If two or more beams are joined together rigidly
over multiple supports, the bridge becomes continuous.
The two main factors for consideration in the design of a continuous beam are the type
of load and the strength characteristics of the material used to construct the beam. The
reactions that occur at the supports of a simply supported beam can be determined by
analyzing only the forces applied to the beam. For this reason, simple beams are known
as statically determinate. A continuous beam has more supports than are required to
provide equilibrium, and the deformation behavior under load is also considered when
determining the support reactions. As a result, this type of beam is known as statically
indeterminate.
Ad

Top SIP Investment plans

Compare & invest in best Funds. 0 paper work. Start today.

A continuous beam bridge uses two or

more beams.
W atc h the D i d- You- Know s l i de s how

Ads by Google

The construction of a continuous beam will influence its bending and deflection when a
force is applied. Carbon steel is commonly used for structural beams due to its high
strength and resistance to bending. Beams are also constructed using a variety of other
materials, including wood, aluminum, and concrete, depending upon the application.
Today, these types of beams are often designed using engineering software that accepts
input data and determines a design to meet the performance requirements. Input
factors may include the types of forces applied, the span between supports, the beam
shape, the material strength properties, and the mechanical connections to other
structural members.

Simply Supported Beam

Structural Beam
Truss Beam Bridges

A continuous beam must be designed to withstand forces and stress while minimizing
weight, space requirements, and material cost. Most beams are designed with a safety
factor, which serves to oversize the beam to protect against loading and other factors
that cannot be predicted in advance. The selection of an appropriate safety factor is
based on the specific application in combination with good engineering judgment. A
margin of safety that is too high will drive a beam design that is larger than needed,
causing possible weight problems and higher fabrication costs.

Weight of Steel Beam

Post and Beam a Frame
Beam Cantilever

wiseGEEK

Ads by Google

Like

The Beam Beam Construction

Post & Beam Beam Analysis

Kasturba Medical College

Ad Learn The Art Of Saving Lives @ KMC Ranked 7th Best

273,492 people like w iseGEEK.

Medical University.

Facebook social plugin

Follow @wiseGEEK

13.3K followers

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-continuous-beam.htm

1/4

3/12/2015

What Is a Continuous Beam? (with picture)

A rtic le Deta ils

R ec ommended

Written By: Dorothy Distefano

Edited By: Michelle Arevalo
Last Modified Date: 27 February
2015
Copyright Protected:
2003-2015 Conjecture
Corporation
Print this Article

Free
Widgets
Site/B log

for

What Is a Cantilever?

What Is a Truss System?

What Is an Axial Load?

What Are the Different

Types of Beam Design?

What Is a Bascule Bridge? What is a Suspension

Bridge?

your

Did You Know?

Russia didn't deem beer an alcoholic
drink until 2012; before that, most
Russians considered it a soft drink.
more...
get widget

You might a lso Like

This Day in History

March 12 , 1947 : The Truman
Doctrine was announced. more...
get widget

Subsc ribe to wiseGEEK

Learn something new every day
by email
More Info...

Finally - The
Secrets Wall
Street Doesn't
Want You to Know

How To Reverse
Hair Loss In
Women

A Man from New

Delhi Makes
Rs.6,302/Day

Indian Loses 24kg

in 2 Months from
This Product

101 Ridiculously
Hot Instagram
Pictures You Gotta
See

New Diabetes
Breakthrough?

Zombie Syndrome
Is a Real
Psychological
Condition

Famous People
You Didnt Know
Were Missing
Body Parts

enter email address

wiseGEEK Slideshows

Sponsored ?

These 10 animal facts will

amaze you...

Ten hilariously insightful

foreign words

R ela ted wiseGEEK A rtic les

W hat
W hat
W hat
W hat

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-continuous-beam.htm

Is
Is
Is
Is

B e am D e fl e c ti on?
a Struc tural B e am ?
B e am Software ?
a Conc re te Pl ane r?

2/4

3/12/2015

What Is a Continuous Beam? (with picture)

W hat Is B e am Span?
W hat Is a B e am Hange r?
W
hat
Is Bscope
e am Cal
c ul ati on? of your hair loss with
To
know
of improvement

Hair Loss Evaluation Test

Ad

homeopathy

You won't believe these 10

facts about people...

Disc uss this A rtic le

O rc ade al
Post 2

Adorable animal families that

will make you "aww"...

@MagicStrom: Yes, all true. Carbon steel beams are an essential part of
building modern bridges but carbon steel is not without its
drawbacks.
Welding carbon steel can be can be done using stainless steel
electrodes (or aluminum bronze). But beware! The stainless steel is
electropositive, and if there's moisture present, both the zinc and the
exposed carbon steel next to the weld metal will corrode to protect the
stainless steel (or the aluminum bronze). The key is to use galvanized
steel before it's welded.
Ads by Google Concrete Beam Beam Line Engineering Design

Structural Steel Design Truss Design

Magi c Strom
Post 1

These 10 facts about space will

blow your mind...

The importance of carbon steel beams in bridge construction, especially

in continuous beams, can not be overstated.
Carbon steel, which is an alloy composed mostly of iron and added
elements such as (but not limited to) nickel, titanium, and cobalt, is
harder, stronger, and less flexible than iron alone.
In other words, modern bridges are stronger as a result of carbon steel
beams.

Post your c omments

Post A nonymously

Login

R egister

username

username

password

password
confirm

forgot password?

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-continuous-beam.htm

email

3/4

3/12/2015

wiseGEEK

clear answers fo r co mmo n questio ns

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-continuous-beam.htm

What Is a Continuous Beam? (with picture)

FAQ
Login
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Copyright 2003 - 2015
Conjecture Corporation

4/4