LD1
Epic Contributor
I downloaded a program called beamboy. It has a lot of beam specifications stores....and you can enter basic information like span, load, and select a beam. Then it will calculate stress and deflection for you.....Steel it is! I will check out the scrap yards to see what is available.
Next I will try to locate an area of the creek that is narrowest. Keeping my footers/concrete blocks 2' from the bank, I am going to end up with a 11' - 14' span.
Is there a good online calc for "point loads" of the different sizes of steel beams?
But you still have to have an understanding of just how much stress and deflection is acceptable.
You can also do it long hand with the stress and deflection formulas. But you have to find the specs of the beam.....specifically the moment of inertia.
But to my knowledge.....there is no simple chart that lists all the various beams and their max weight for a given span like there is for lumber and lvl's.
In your quest for shopping for a beam.....just know that all but the very lightest of the 5" and 6" steel I-beams will support a ton at midspan of 14'.
Obviously heavier beam means higher capacity....as well as shortening the span. 11' will hold alot more with a given beam than 14'