Negotiate Your Salary

Learn the best principles to negotiate the salary you deserve!

3D Scanners

A white paper to assist in the evaluation of 3D scanning hardware solutions.

Essentials of Manufacturing

Information, coverage of important developments and expert commentary in manufacturing.

Metal 3D Printing Design Guide

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) 3D printing for parts with reduced cost and little waste.

more free publications
Glossary » Beams » Simply Supported » Uniformly Distributed Load » Four Equal Spans » Wide Flange Steel I Beam » W12 × 35
Wide Flange Steel I Beam | Single Span | Two Equal Spans | Three Equal Spans | Four Equal Spans

For a simply supported beam in four equal spans, we compute the displacement at the middle of the first and fourth spans, and the maximum normal stress stress_max occuring at the second and fourth supports of the beam.
The tabulated data listed in this page are calculated based on the area moment of inertia (Ixx = 285 in4) for the W12 × 35 Wide Flange Steel I Beam and the typical Young's modulus (E = 3.046 × 107 psi) of steels. Note that the typical yielding stress Yield of steels can range from 1.015 × 104 to 2.970 × 105 psi. The purpose of this page is to give a rough estimation of the load-bearing capacity of this particular beam, rather than a guideline for designing actual building structures. Please check your local building codes for regulatory requirements.
Note: The weight of the beam itself is not included in the calculation.
L = 3 ft
L = 5 ft
L = 10 ft
L = 15 ft
L = 20 ft
L = 25 ft
L = 30 ft
L = 40 ft
L = 50 ft
L = 60 ft
L = 70 ft
L = 80 ft
L = 90 ft
L = 100 ft
L = 125 ft
  
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 3.00 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 3.56 × 10-6 8.88
40.0 4.06 × 10-6 10.1
50.0 5.08 × 10-6 12.7
60.0 6.10 × 10-6 15.2
70.0 7.11 × 10-6 17.8
80.0 8.13 × 10-6 20.3
90.0 9.14 × 10-6 22.8
100 1.02 × 10-5 25.4
200 2.03 × 10-5 50.7
300 3.05 × 10-5 76.1
400 4.06 × 10-5 101
500 5.08 × 10-5 127
600 6.10 × 10-5 152
700 7.11 × 10-5 178
800 8.13 × 10-5 203
900 9.14 × 10-5 228
1000 1.02 × 10-4 254
2000 2.03 × 10-4 507
3000 3.05 × 10-4 761
4000 4.06 × 10-4 1010
5000 5.08 × 10-4 1270
6000 6.10 × 10-4 1520
7000 7.11 × 10-4 1780
8000 8.13 × 10-4 2030
9000 9.14 × 10-4 2280
1.00 × 104 0.00102 2540
2.00 × 104 0.00203 5070
3.00 × 104 0.00305 7610
4.00 × 104 0.00406 1.01 × 104
5.00 × 104 0.00508 1.27 × 104
6.00 × 104 0.00610 1.52 × 104
7.00 × 104 0.00711 1.78 × 104
8.00 × 104 0.00813 2.03 × 104
9.00 × 104 0.00914 2.28 × 104
1.00 × 105 0.0102 2.54 × 104
2.00 × 105 0.0203 5.07 × 104
3.00 × 105 0.0305 7.61 × 104
4.00 × 105 0.0406 1.01 × 105
5.00 × 105 0.0508 1.27 × 105
6.00 × 105 0.0610 1.52 × 105
7.00 × 105 0.0711 1.78 × 105
8.00 × 105 0.0813 2.03 × 105
9.00 × 105 0.0914 2.28 × 105
1.00 × 106 0.102 2.54 × 105
1.17 × 106 0.119 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 5.00 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 2.74 × 10-5 24.7
40.0 3.14 × 10-5 28.2
50.0 3.92 × 10-5 35.2
60.0 4.70 × 10-5 42.3
70.0 5.49 × 10-5 49.3
80.0 6.27 × 10-5 56.4
90.0 7.05 × 10-5 63.4
100 7.84 × 10-5 70.5
200 1.57 × 10-4 141
300 2.35 × 10-4 211
400 3.14 × 10-4 282
500 3.92 × 10-4 352
600 4.70 × 10-4 423
700 5.49 × 10-4 493
800 6.27 × 10-4 564
900 7.05 × 10-4 634
1000 7.84 × 10-4 705
2000 0.00157 1410
3000 0.00235 2110
4000 0.00314 2820
5000 0.00392 3520
6000 0.00470 4230
7000 0.00549 4930
8000 0.00627 5640
9000 0.00705 6340
1.00 × 104 0.00784 7050
2.00 × 104 0.0157 1.41 × 104
3.00 × 104 0.0235 2.11 × 104
4.00 × 104 0.0314 2.82 × 104
5.00 × 104 0.0392 3.52 × 104
6.00 × 104 0.0470 4.23 × 104
7.00 × 104 0.0549 4.93 × 104
8.00 × 104 0.0627 5.64 × 104
9.00 × 104 0.0705 6.34 × 104
1.00 × 105 0.0784 7.05 × 104
2.00 × 105 0.157 1.41 × 105
3.00 × 105 0.235 2.11 × 105
4.00 × 105 0.314 2.82 × 105
4.22 × 105 0.330 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 10.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 4.39 × 10-4 98.6
40.0 5.02 × 10-4 113
50.0 6.27 × 10-4 141
60.0 7.52 × 10-4 169
70.0 8.78 × 10-4 197
80.0 0.00100 225
90.0 0.00113 254
100 0.00125 282
200 0.00251 564
300 0.00376 846
400 0.00502 1130
500 0.00627 1410
600 0.00752 1690
700 0.00878 1970
800 0.0100 2250
900 0.0113 2540
1000 0.0125 2820
2000 0.0251 5640
3000 0.0376 8460
4000 0.0502 1.13 × 104
5000 0.0627 1.41 × 104
6000 0.0752 1.69 × 104
7000 0.0878 1.97 × 104
8000 0.100 2.25 × 104
9000 0.113 2.54 × 104
1.00 × 104 0.125 2.82 × 104
2.00 × 104 0.251 5.64 × 104
3.00 × 104 0.376 8.46 × 104
4.00 × 104 0.502 1.13 × 105
5.00 × 104 0.627 1.41 × 105
6.00 × 104 0.752 1.69 × 105
7.00 × 104 0.878 1.97 × 105
8.00 × 104 1.00 2.25 × 105
9.00 × 104 1.13 2.54 × 105
1.00 × 105 1.25 2.82 × 105
1.05 × 105 1.32 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 15.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 0.00222 222
40.0 0.00254 254
50.0 0.00317 317
60.0 0.00381 380
70.0 0.00444 444
80.0 0.00508 507
90.0 0.00571 571
100 0.00635 634
200 0.0127 1270
300 0.0190 1900
400 0.0254 2540
500 0.0317 3170
600 0.0381 3800
700 0.0444 4440
800 0.0508 5070
900 0.0571 5710
1000 0.0635 6340
2000 0.127 1.27 × 104
3000 0.190 1.90 × 104
4000 0.254 2.54 × 104
5000 0.317 3.17 × 104
6000 0.381 3.80 × 104
7000 0.444 4.44 × 104
8000 0.508 5.07 × 104
9000 0.571 5.71 × 104
1.00 × 104 0.635 6.34 × 104
2.00 × 104 1.27 1.27 × 105
3.00 × 104 1.90 1.90 × 105
4.00 × 104 2.54 2.54 × 105
4.68 × 104 2.97 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 20.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 0.00702 395
40.0 0.00803 451
50.0 0.0100 564
60.0 0.0120 676
70.0 0.0140 789
80.0 0.0161 902
90.0 0.0181 1010
100 0.0201 1130
200 0.0401 2250
300 0.0602 3380
400 0.0803 4510
500 0.100 5640
600 0.120 6760
700 0.140 7890
800 0.161 9020
900 0.181 1.01 × 104
1000 0.201 1.13 × 104
2000 0.401 2.25 × 104
3000 0.602 3.38 × 104
4000 0.803 4.51 × 104
5000 1.00 5.64 × 104
6000 1.20 6.76 × 104
7000 1.40 7.89 × 104
8000 1.61 9.02 × 104
9000 1.81 1.01 × 105
1.00 × 104 2.01 1.13 × 105
2.00 × 104 4.01 2.25 × 105
2.63 × 104 5.29 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 25.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 0.0171 617
40.0 0.0196 705
50.0 0.0245 881
60.0 0.0294 1060
70.0 0.0343 1230
80.0 0.0392 1410
90.0 0.0441 1590
100 0.0490 1760
200 0.0980 3520
300 0.147 5280
400 0.196 7050
500 0.245 8810
600 0.294 1.06 × 104
700 0.343 1.23 × 104
800 0.392 1.41 × 104
900 0.441 1.59 × 104
1000 0.490 1.76 × 104
2000 0.980 3.52 × 104
3000 1.47 5.28 × 104
4000 1.96 7.05 × 104
5000 2.45 8.81 × 104
6000 2.94 1.06 × 105
7000 3.43 1.23 × 105
8000 3.92 1.41 × 105
9000 4.41 1.59 × 105
1.00 × 104 4.90 1.76 × 105
1.69 × 104 8.26 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 30.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 0.0356 888
40.0 0.0406 1010
50.0 0.0508 1270
60.0 0.0610 1520
70.0 0.0711 1780
80.0 0.0813 2030
90.0 0.0914 2280
100 0.102 2540
200 0.203 5070
300 0.305 7610
400 0.406 1.01 × 104
500 0.508 1.27 × 104
600 0.610 1.52 × 104
700 0.711 1.78 × 104
800 0.813 2.03 × 104
900 0.914 2.28 × 104
1000 1.02 2.54 × 104
2000 2.03 5.07 × 104
3000 3.05 7.61 × 104
4000 4.06 1.01 × 105
5000 5.08 1.27 × 105
6000 6.10 1.52 × 105
7000 7.11 1.78 × 105
8000 8.13 2.03 × 105
9000 9.14 2.28 × 105
1.00 × 104 10.2 2.54 × 105
1.17 × 104 11.9 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 40.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 0.112 1580
40.0 0.128 1800
50.0 0.161 2250
60.0 0.193 2710
70.0 0.225 3160
80.0 0.257 3610
90.0 0.289 4060
100 0.321 4510
200 0.642 9020
300 0.963 1.35 × 104
400 1.28 1.80 × 104
500 1.61 2.25 × 104
600 1.93 2.71 × 104
700 2.25 3.16 × 104
800 2.57 3.61 × 104
900 2.89 4.06 × 104
1000 3.21 4.51 × 104
2000 6.42 9.02 × 104
3000 9.63 1.35 × 105
3890 12.5 1.76 × 105
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 50.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 0.274 2470
40.0 0.314 2820
50.0 0.392 3520
60.0 0.470 4230
70.0 0.549 4930
80.0 0.627 5640
90.0 0.705 6340
100 0.784 7050
200 1.57 1.41 × 104
300 2.35 2.11 × 104
400 3.14 2.82 × 104
500 3.92 3.52 × 104
600 4.70 4.23 × 104
700 5.49 4.93 × 104
800 6.27 5.64 × 104
900 7.05 6.34 × 104
1000 7.84 7.05 × 104
1590 12.5 1.12 × 105
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 60.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 0.569 3550
40.0 0.650 4060
50.0 0.813 5070
60.0 0.975 6090
70.0 1.14 7100
80.0 1.30 8120
90.0 1.46 9130
100 1.63 1.01 × 104
200 3.25 2.03 × 104
300 4.88 3.04 × 104
400 6.50 4.06 × 104
500 8.13 5.07 × 104
600 9.75 6.09 × 104
700 11.4 7.10 × 104
769 12.5 7.80 × 104
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 70.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 1.05 4830
40.0 1.20 5520
50.0 1.51 6910
60.0 1.81 8290
70.0 2.11 9670
80.0 2.41 1.10 × 104
90.0 2.71 1.24 × 104
100 3.01 1.38 × 104
200 6.02 2.76 × 104
300 9.03 4.14 × 104
400 12.0 5.52 × 104
415 12.5 5.73 × 104
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 80.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 1.80 6310
40.0 2.05 7220
50.0 2.57 9020
60.0 3.08 1.08 × 104
70.0 3.60 1.26 × 104
80.0 4.11 1.44 × 104
90.0 4.62 1.62 × 104
100 5.14 1.80 × 104
200 10.3 3.61 × 104
243 12.5 4.39 × 104
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 90.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 2.88 7990
40.0 3.29 9130
50.0 4.11 1.14 × 104
60.0 4.94 1.37 × 104
70.0 5.76 1.60 × 104
80.0 6.58 1.83 × 104
90.0 7.41 2.05 × 104
100 8.23 2.28 × 104
152 12.5 3.47 × 104
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 100 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 4.39 9860
40.0 5.02 1.13 × 104
50.0 6.27 1.41 × 104
60.0 7.52 1.69 × 104
70.0 8.78 1.97 × 104
80.0 10.0 2.25 × 104
90.0 11.3 2.54 × 104
99.7 12.5 2.81 × 104
Steel I Beam: W12 × 35 (Wide Flange 12 inch tall × 35 lbf/ft)
L = 125 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
35.0 10.7 1.54 × 104
40.0 12.2 1.76 × 104
40.8 12.5 1.80 × 104
Additional Information
Related Pages
Negotiate Your Salary

Learn the best principles to negotiate the salary you deserve!

3D Scanners

A white paper to assist in the evaluation of 3D scanning hardware solutions.

Essentials of Manufacturing

Information, coverage of important developments and expert commentary in manufacturing.

Metal 3D Printing Design Guide

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) 3D printing for parts with reduced cost and little waste.