What is Beam and Types of Beams in Strength of Materials?

In this article we will discuss about the different types of beams used in the construction. Without beams there will not be any structure which can withstand loads. They are the structural member which helps in bearing loads. If there are no beams, there will be no structure.

The beam is defined as the structural member which is used to bear different loads. It resists the vertical loads, shear forces and bending moments.

The different types of beams are:

A cantilever beam is a beam that is fixed from one end and free at the other end.

In the figure you can easily see that one end i.e. A is fixed and the other end i.e. B is free. So this beam is called as cantilever beam.

A beam which is supported or resting on the supports at its both the ends, is called simply supported beam.

In the figure, both the ends of the beam is supported by supports, one support is at end A and the other support is at end B. this beam is known as simply supported beam.

In a beam, if one of its ends is extended beyond the support, it is known as overhanging beam.

As shown in the above figure, we observe that beam is extending beyond the support B, and hence this beam is called overhanging beam.

A beam which has both of its ends fixed or built in walls is called fixed beam.

In the figure, both the ends of the beams are rigidly fixed in the walls, this type of beams are known as fixed beams.

It is a beam which is provided with more than two supports as shown in figure.

Here we can see in the figure that the beam has more than two supports at A, B and C. This beam is called continuous beams.

This is all about the different types of beams. If you found this piece of information useful and valuable then don’t forget to like and share it.