Optimal Beam documentation

Choose the guide for the tool you are using.

The Beam Calculator and 2D Structural Analysis have separate, complete guides. Search for a feature or open a guide to follow its workflow from setup through reporting.

Separate solver guides Feature-level navigation Sign conventions included Updated July 2026

Primary guides

Open the documentation for your solver

Each guide has its own search, table of contents, modeling sequence, results reference, sign conventions, assumptions, and troubleshooting.

Beam Calculator guide For one straight beam: span, supports, loads, section regions, reactions, diagrams, deflection, stress, and PDF reports. 2D Structural Analysis guide For frames and trusses: nodes, connected members, releases, cases, combinations, self-weight, forces, and displacements. Free engineering tools Section properties, regional steel-section data, comparisons, exports, and engineering unit conversion. Account and access Registration, sign-in, password recovery, settings, plans, and locked features. Projects and reports Saving, recovery, source backups, versions, checkpoints, and PDF report checks. Get support What to include when reporting a problem, plus direct links to support and engineering theory.

Topic directory

Go directly to the feature you need

The links below stay inside one solver’s documentation, so instructions and sign conventions are never mixed.

Other calculators and references

Free engineering tools

These tools have focused workflows and can pass useful section data into a beam model.

Free tool

Section Properties Calculator

Calculate area, centroid, moments of inertia, section moduli, and radii of gyration for common shapes.

Open tool
  1. Select the shape and input unit.
  2. Enter each labelled dimension using the drawing as the orientation reference.
  3. Select Calculate and review the shape, A, centroid, I, S, Z, and r values.
  4. Export a PDF or choose Analyze in Beam Calculator to transfer the calculated properties.

Scope: Geometric properties are not material strength or design capacity.

Free tool

Steel Section Finder

Search regional catalogues, inspect dimensions and properties, compare shapes, and export data.

Open finder
  1. Choose the regional library and search by designation or filters.
  2. Select a row to inspect its labelled section and full property set.
  3. Compare selected sections and switch displayed metric or imperial units as needed.
  4. Download a chart or send the selected section to Beam Calculator.

Verify: Confirm the source standard, edition, designation, axis, and units for the project.

Free tool

Structural Engineering Unit Converters

Convert beam moments, point loads, line loads, stress, density, section properties, and supporting quantities.

Open converters
  1. Select the engineering quantity and enter a value in any unit field.
  2. For floor or roof pressure, multiply psf or kPa by tributary width to obtain a beam line load.
  3. Send compatible point loads, distributed loads, and applied moments into Beam Calculator with the magnitude prefilled.

Important: Area uses length², section modulus uses length³, and moment of inertia uses length⁴.

Your account

Sign-in, settings, and feature access

Sign in or recover access

  1. Use public calculators directly for available guest workflows.
  2. Create an account for account-backed features.
  3. Log in with account credentials or the available Google option.
  4. Use password recovery if you cannot sign in.

Manage the account

  1. Open Settings to review profile, plan, and subscription information.
  2. Use Change Password to update credentials.
  3. Use the subscription controls in Settings for eligible billing or cancellation actions.
  4. Log out after using a shared computer.
A lock normally indicates feature access, not a calculation error.

Guest and account plans can have different limits for results, saves, AI, reports, folders, and history. See Pricing for the current comparison.

Working records

Projects, recovery, versions, and reports

The available controls depend on the workspace and account plan. Use the relevant solver guide for the exact sequence.

Beam model workflowSee Beam saving and PDF reports.
Before a major changeUse Save As, a checkpoint, or a downloaded source backup when that option is available.
Before sharing a PDFOpen it and check the model, scenario, units, inputs, results, assumptions, author, revision, and page layout.

Need more help?

Include enough detail to reproduce the problem.

When contacting support, include the workspace, browser, working units, model or project name, the exact message, what you expected, and the steps immediately before the issue. Remove confidential project information from screenshots and source files.

Contact support Beam theory Terms of use