Types of Beams and Beam Supports
Compare simply supported, cantilever, fixed, overhanging and continuous beams with interactive diagrams, support reactions, formulas and worked examples.
- Beam types
- Supports
- Reactions
- Formulas
Optimal Beam engineering resources
Structural Engineering Guides
Practical explanations, diagrams, formulas and worked examples for structural analysis—with direct links to the tools used to check the results.
Guide library
Engineering guides
Detailed references for common beam and structural analysis questions.
Engineering calculators
Continue with a calculation
Use the calculator or reference that matches the engineering problem.
Beam Calculator
Calculate reactions, shear, bending moment, slope, deflection and stress for a straight beam.
Open Beam Calculator
2D Structural Analysis
Model and analyze frames and trusses with member releases, load cases and combinations.
Open 2D Structural Analysis
Section Properties & Moment of Inertia
Calculate area, centroid, moments of inertia, section modulus and radius of gyration.
Calculate Section Properties
Steel Beam Sizes
Find section dimensions and properties for AISC, CISC, UK, European and Australian steel shapes.
Browse Steel Beam Sizes