What is the mid-span deflection of a W21x44 beam spanning 5.0 meters under 15.0 kN/m?
⚡ Instant Calculated Answer
A W21x44 steel beam across a 5.0 meter span under a 15.0 kN/m uniform distributed load deflects by 1.74 mm at mid-span, which PASSES the standard building code L/360 serviceability limit (13.89 mm).
1.74 mm
Primary Metric
Limit: 13.89 mm
Secondary Metric
📐 Mathematical Formula & Step-by-Step Substitution
- Identify beam properties: Section W21x44, Moment of Inertia I_x = 35,100 cm⁴ (3.5100e-04 m⁴), Young's Modulus E = 200 GPa.
- Convert units: Span L = 5.0 m, Load w = 15.0 kN/m = 15,000 N/m.
- Calculate numerator: 5 × 15,000 × (5.0)⁴ = 5 × 15,000 × 625.00 = 46,875,000.0.
- Calculate denominator: 384 × 200×10⁹ × 3.5100e-04 = 26,956,800,000.0.
- Evaluate deflection: 46,875,000.0 / 26,956,800,000.0 = 0.00174 m = 1.74 mm (compared to L/360 = 13.89 mm).
📊 Nearby Parameter Reference Table
| Span Length | Uniform Load | Mid-Span Deflection | L/360 Code Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 m | 15.0 kN/m | 0.71 mm | 11.11 mm (OK) |
| 4.5 m | 15.0 kN/m | 1.14 mm | 12.5 mm (OK) |
| 5.0 m | 15.0 kN/m | 1.74 mm | 13.89 mm (OK) |
| 5.5 m | 15.0 kN/m | 2.55 mm | 15.28 mm (OK) |
| 6.0 m | 15.0 kN/m | 3.61 mm | 16.67 mm (OK) |
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