Hello!

I'm considering tearing down a load-bearing wall in the garage and replacing it with a steel beam. Does anyone know if there is a program similar to Moelven's glulam calculations, but for steel beams?

The reason I want a steel beam is to save ceiling height.

Regards
 
More than a hundred have read the question but no one has answered, so there probably isn't an equivalent easily accessible program for steel beams. If you provide input such as loads and spans, maybe someone here can calculate a beam dimension that works.
 
I don't think there are any "cheap" software options. But if you know the loads and points of attack, it shouldn't take too long to calculate a suitable dimension. Maybe you should make a sketch and upload it here? It's hard to come up with concrete suggestions since I have no idea what it looks like.

An option that is likely cheaper is to lay several wooden beams parallel to each other? This of course builds on the width, but you save ceiling height. This obviously becomes problematic if we are talking about long spans.

From the formula for the moment of inertia, I=(BxH^3)/12, we get a relationship between cross-sectional width and cross-sectional height. It can be easily seen here that the height of a beam has 3 times the impact of the width when it comes to taking up moment loads.

Hope it works out for you!
 
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Skogiz said:
From the formula for the moment of inertia, I=(BxH^3)/12, we get a relationship between cross-sectional width and cross-sectional height. It can be easily seen here that the height of a beam has 3 times the impact as the width when it comes to taking up moment load.
That little arrow after H in the formula means raised to the power of 3, i.e., to the third power.
Thus, doubling the height gives 8 times higher moment of inertia, a 25% higher height almost doubles the moment of inertia.
 
anaitis said:
The little arrow after H in the formula means raised to the power of 3, i.e., third power.
Thus, doubling the height results in an 8 times higher moment of inertia, a 25% higher height almost doubles the moment of inertia.
You are, of course, absolutely right, Anaitis. I was a bit too quick yesterday.
 
Keep in mind that calculation models for steel beams often rely on designing for strength.
In a steel construction, it often matters less if it deflects a little.

Glued laminated beams (limträbalkar) are designed for deflection if I remember correctly.
No one wants a roof that holds with a good margin but sags in the middle.
 
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