BEAMS Lecture Notes Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards on beams, strength, and structural design.

Efficiency (Beam Design)

Achieving maximum strength and load-bearing capacity using the least amount of material and cost.

Relevance of Efficient Beam Design

Ensures structural safety, optimizes resource use, and reduces construction expenses without compromising performance.

Compression (Beam Design)

Internal force that pushes materials together, typically occurring in the top portion of a horizontally loaded beam.

Importance of Accounting for Compression

Ensures the beam can withstand applied loads without buckling or failing, thereby maintaining structural integrity.

Deflection (Structural Beam Design)

The degree to which the beam bends or displaces under a load.

Importance of Controlling Deflection

Ensures structural stability, prevents damage to connected elements, and maintains the beam's functionality.

Cross Section (Structural Beam)

Shape and size of its profile when cut perpendicular to its length.

Relevance of Cross Section

Directly affects the beam's strength, stiffness, and ability to resist bending, allowing engineers to optimize performance while minimizing material use.

Tensile force

internal force that occurs when an object is being pulled from opposite ends, causing it to stretch