Timber Beam Design Calcs
Timber Beam Design Calcs
(OP)
Hello,
Can anyone recommend where I can get free timber beam design software to design a simply supported timber purlin for a pitched roof? The load is 7kN/m and the span is 4m. I am proposing to use a 300mmx75mm timber purlin.
Thanks.
E.
Can anyone recommend where I can get free timber beam design software to design a simply supported timber purlin for a pitched roof? The load is 7kN/m and the span is 4m. I am proposing to use a 300mmx75mm timber purlin.
Thanks.
E.






RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
That said ... as your question is posed in metric you might find it instructive to visit www.trada.co.uk, where you will have to register, and then visit Technical Information / Software Toolbox.
RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
Are you loadings/span correctly calculated? Your purlin would fail code requirements on bending,shear and deflection.
RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
1. Even if one finds free software, how do you ensure its accuracy and methodology?
2. What is wrong with doing things long hand?
3. Are new and young engineers are out of touch with reality when it comes to performing hand calculations?
4. Does anyone in this forum want to use a structure designed by an engineer who performed his calculations on free software he found on the Internet and he had no clue how the software functions and what codes it uses?
Young engineers should motivate themselves to do calculations manually and then may be graduate to writing their own programs or buying a bona-fide and tested preprograms. Even at that, they must be trained on how to utilize the software.
I often wonder how many young structural engineers can perform moment distribution manually!
Just to prove my point, I came across an engineer who was using STAAD to design a concrete beam using lateral loads. Well, guess what? STAAD does not design beams for weak axis bending. If you do not believe me, check their technical manuals!!
I hope I got my point across.
Regards,
Lutfi
RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
In bridge work, the main girders or trusses are those that support the span of the bridge. These can support secondary beams that span from edge to edge. These are sometimes called purlins. Alternatively, the secondary beams can support yet another series of beams that are sometimes called purlins.
With pre-engineered metal buildings, the main 'rigid' frames support smaller roof beams, these are often called purlins. The beams supporting the cladding for the walls are generally called girts.
Dik
RE: Timber Beam Design Calcs
All the same, a fairly simple timber beam calculation