Measures · Steel IPE beam
Steel IPE beam pre-sizing FREE
Work out the IPE section of a steel beam from its span and support conditions. Below the result you find the formula and the standard.
Indicative pre-sizing. It does not replace a structural calculation signed by a licensed engineer. For seismic zones with agS (design ground acceleration) > 0.15g, long spans or use classes III/IV → talk to a structural engineer.
Pick a calculation from the list to start.
Formula, example and standard
h ≈ L/20 (simply supported)
Example with the starting values (Span L: 6 m; Support conditions: Simply supported): Depth h ≈ 30 cm. Pick the IPE section from W = M/fyd · typical residential: IPE 200-240 for L=5-6m.
- L/20 simply supported · L/25 continuous · L/30 fixed ends.
- Pick the IPE section from W = M/fyd, with the tables of the Manuale dell'Ingegnere (the Italian engineering handbook) or the manufacturer's section tables.
- For spans > 8 m the allowable deflection (L/300) becomes stricter than strength.
Source: NTC 2018 §4.2 · DM 17/01/2018 · biblus.acca.it
Indicative pre-sizing: it does not replace a calculation signed by a licensed engineer.
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