ASDIP is a structural engineering software for design of structural members and components. It includes the design of continuous beams of different materials, such as concrete, steel, and wood. However, sometimes it's necessary to model and design a single cantilever beam.
This document shows how to model and complete the design of a single cantilever beam using ASDIP software. For illustration purposes, the following example corresponds to a concrete beam designed using ASDIP CONCRETE, but this feature is present in ASDIP STEEL and ASDIP WOOD as well.
Single cantilever beam example
As an example, let’s consider the 6'-0" long concrete cantilever beam shown below. For illustration purposes let's assume that it's supported by a concrete column in a building, which provides a full-restrain support. The cantilever beam supports uniform and concentrated loads as shown. Design the reinforcement for the given dimensions.
Entering the beam geometry and loads
In the Geometry tab select a rectangular beam type and enter the given dimensions of the cross section as h = 16" and b = 12". Since this is a single cantilever beam, select the number of supports = 1. The program will automatically show a right cantilever with a fixed support. Specify the cantilever length as 6.00 ft. Finally, the support length should be zero since this is a cantilever beam and the span is being measured from the column face.
Go to the Loads tab to enter the loads on the beam as defined above. In addition to the beam selfweight, specify a uniform load of 100 psf dead, and 200 psf live, with a tributary width of 3.00 ft. Specify a live concentrated load of 1.0 kip applied at the end of the cantilever beam.
The At-a-Glance tab shows a summary of the results. ASDIP generates a condensed report in the Condensed tab, showing detailed calculations organized by topic in a tabular format This is excellent for a deeper check of the design as you go.
The image below shows the Geometry tab, and a partial view of the detailed report.
Specifying the reinforcement
Go to the Reinforcement tab and specify the rebars as 2 #5 continuous top and bottom. The flexural capacity is not adequate to resist the applied bending moment. Add a third bar #5 x 3.00 ft log at top and now the bending ratio is 0.67. Specify stirrups #3 @ 7" throughout the span
The image below shows the Reinforcement tab, and a graphic view the shear and moment diagrams for the controlling load combination 1.2D+1.6L+0.5Lr. Note that the blue areas represent the structural capacity.
ASDIP generates a detailed presentation of the results in the Detailed tab, showing step-by-step calculations organized by topic and load combination, with exposed formulas and references to the design code. This is excellent for a deep granular check of the design.
Takeaway
ASDIP includes the design of single cantilever beams, either concrete, steel, or wood. This step-by-step design example shows how fast the design can be completed and optimized using ASDIP CONCRETE. The results are shown instantly in both text and graphics format for an immediate granular check.
For our collection of blog posts about beam design please visit Concrete Design, Steel Design, Wood Design.
Detailed information is available about this structural engineering software by visiting ASDIP CONCRETE. You are invited to download the Free 15-day Software Trial or go ahead and Place your Order.
Best regards,
Javier Encinas, PE
ASDIP Structural Software