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Revision as of 22:42, 14 October 2005 by Alistair1978 (talk | contribs) (lk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)I-beams are beams with an I- or H-shaped cross-section. The Euler-Bernoulli beam equation shows that this is a very efficient form for carrying bending in the plane of the web. It is not as capable in the transverse direction, and it is a poor choice for carrying torsion. Tubular sections are usually used to carry 3D loading. The I-beam has very little margin for plastic bending.
There are two standard I-beam forms:
- I-beam, formed by rolling or extrusion (depending on material)
- Wide flange or H-beam, formed by welding plates.
I-beams are commonly made of steel and may also be known as rolled steel joists or RSJs.
They are widely used in the construction industry and are available in a variety of standard sizes. Tables are available to allow easy selection of a suitable steel I-beam size for a given applied load. In horizontal applications, the minimum suitable size is usually determined by maximum permissible deflection rather than by ultimate failure capacity - a sagging floor is unsightly.
I-beams engineered from laminated timber are also becoming increasingly popular in construction as they are both lighter and less prone to warping than solid wooden joists.
Extruded plastic I-beams are occasionally used in modelling.
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