Author(s)

J. Van Steirteghem, P. Samyn & W.P. de Wilde

Abstract

This study compares the self-weight and the stiffness of statically determinate beams with variable section m regard to statically determinate beams with constant section, subjected to uniformly distributed or mobile vertical load. The comparison is done by the use of a new approach based on morphological indicators. Those dimensionless numbers allow reducing the amount of parameters in the process of optimisation and to produce curves related to each kind of beam. Those curves allow to design beams but also to optimise their weight or their stiffness, irrespective of the material, the span or the total value of the loads.

Keywords