Beams hold up the roof over your head and give support to the walls
surrounding you. Beams are literally all around us. Engineers use
beams to support and strengthen structures ranging from silos
to bridges to towering skyscrapers. In this lab, we will explore the
mathematics associated with the static deformation of beams. We will
begin with the geometric concepts of centroids and moments of inertia,
and then learn how different methods of supporting a beam contribute
to the beam's ability to support loads.
Next: The Main Ideas of the Module
The Geometry Center Calculus Development Team
Support for the Curriculum Initiative Project at the
University of Minnesota
has been provided by a grant from the
National Science Foundation
(DUE 9456095) and by the Geometry Center.
Copyright © 1996 by The Geometry Center.
Last modified: Fri Apr 12 15:55:34 1996
![[Loaded Beam]](img/beam.gif)