Floor Beam Span Calculator

Formula

To calculate the Maximum Span of a Floor Beam (S):

\[ S = \frac{F \times L^2}{8 \times D \times I} \]

Where:

\(S\) is the Maximum Span of the Floor Beam in feet
\(F\) is the Allowable Stress of the material in psi
\(L\) is the Length of the Beam in feet
\(D\) is the Depth of the Beam in inches
\(I\) is the Moment of Inertia in in^4

What is a Floor Beam Span?

A Floor Beam Span refers to the distance a floor beam can safely cover without support. It is a crucial aspect in construction and architecture, determining the strength and stability of a structure. The span is influenced by factors such as the type of material used, the weight the beam is expected to support, and the beam’s size. The longer the span, the stronger and larger the beam needs to be to prevent sagging or collapse.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Allowable Stress (\(F\)) = 2000 psi
Length of the Beam (\(L\)) = 15 feet
Depth of the Beam (\(D\)) = 12 inches
Moment of Inertia (\(I\)) = 300 in^4

Using the formula:

\[ S = \frac{2000 \times 15^2}{8 \times 12 \times 300} = \frac{2000 \times 225}{28800} \approx 15.63 \text{ feet} \]

The Maximum Span of the Floor Beam is approximately 15.63 feet.