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Glossary » Beams » Simply Supported » Uniformly Distributed Load » Single Span » Aluminum I Beam » 4.00 × 2.311
Aluminum I Beam | Single Span | Two Equal Spans | Three Equal Spans | Four Equal Spans

For a simply supported beam in a single span, the maximum displacement w_max and the maximum normal stress stress_max occur at the center of the beam.
The tabulated data listed in this page are calculated based on the area moment of inertia (Ixx = 5.62 in4) for the 4.00 × 2.311 Aluminum I Beam and the typical Young's modulus (E = 1.015 × 107 psi) of aluminum alloys. Note that the typical yielding stress Yield of aluminum alloys can range from 4061 to 7.614 × 104 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
   
Aluminum I Beam: 4.00 × 2.311 (4.00 inch tall × 2.311 lbf/ft)
L = 3.00 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
2.31 7.38 × 10-5 11.1
3.00 9.58 × 10-5 14.4
4.00 1.28 × 10-4 19.2
5.00 1.60 × 10-4 24.0
6.00 1.92 × 10-4 28.8
7.00 2.24 × 10-4 33.6
8.00 2.56 × 10-4 38.4
9.00 2.87 × 10-4 43.2
10.0 3.19 × 10-4 48.0
20.0 6.39 × 10-4 96.1
30.0 9.58 × 10-4 144
40.0 0.00128 192
50.0 0.00160 240
60.0 0.00192 288
70.0 0.00224 336
80.0 0.00256 384
90.0 0.00287 432
100 0.00319 480
200 0.00639 961
300 0.00958 1440
400 0.0128 1920
500 0.0160 2400
600 0.0192 2880
700 0.0224 3360
800 0.0256 3840
900 0.0287 4320
1000 0.0319 4800
2000 0.0639 9610
3000 0.0958 1.44 × 104
4000 0.128 1.92 × 104
5000 0.160 2.40 × 104
6000 0.192 2.88 × 104
7000 0.224 3.36 × 104
8000 0.256 3.84 × 104
9000 0.287 4.32 × 104
1.00 × 104 0.319 4.80 × 104
1.58 × 104 0.506 7.61 × 104
Aluminum I Beam: 4.00 × 2.311 (4.00 inch tall × 2.311 lbf/ft)
L = 5.00 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
2.31 5.70 × 10-4 30.8
3.00 7.39 × 10-4 40.0
4.00 9.86 × 10-4 53.4
5.00 0.00123 66.7
6.00 0.00148 80.1
7.00 0.00173 93.4
8.00 0.00197 107
9.00 0.00222 120
10.0 0.00246 133
20.0 0.00493 267
30.0 0.00739 400
40.0 0.00986 534
50.0 0.0123 667
60.0 0.0148 801
70.0 0.0173 934
80.0 0.0197 1070
90.0 0.0222 1200
100 0.0246 1330
200 0.0493 2670
300 0.0739 4000
400 0.0986 5340
500 0.123 6670
600 0.148 8010
700 0.173 9340
800 0.197 1.07 × 104
900 0.222 1.20 × 104
1000 0.246 1.33 × 104
2000 0.493 2.67 × 104
3000 0.739 4.00 × 104
4000 0.986 5.34 × 104
5000 1.23 6.67 × 104
5710 1.41 7.61 × 104
Aluminum I Beam: 4.00 × 2.311 (4.00 inch tall × 2.311 lbf/ft)
L = 10.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
2.31 0.00911 123
3.00 0.0118 160
4.00 0.0158 214
5.00 0.0197 267
6.00 0.0237 320
7.00 0.0276 374
8.00 0.0315 427
9.00 0.0355 480
10.0 0.0394 534
20.0 0.0789 1070
30.0 0.118 1600
40.0 0.158 2140
50.0 0.197 2670
60.0 0.237 3200
70.0 0.276 3740
80.0 0.315 4270
90.0 0.355 4800
100 0.394 5340
200 0.789 1.07 × 104
300 1.18 1.60 × 104
400 1.58 2.14 × 104
500 1.97 2.67 × 104
600 2.37 3.20 × 104
700 2.76 3.74 × 104
800 3.15 4.27 × 104
900 3.55 4.80 × 104
1000 3.94 5.34 × 104
1430 5.62 7.61 × 104
Aluminum I Beam: 4.00 × 2.311 (4.00 inch tall × 2.311 lbf/ft)
L = 15.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
2.31 0.0461 278
3.00 0.0599 360
4.00 0.0799 480
5.00 0.0998 601
6.00 0.120 721
7.00 0.140 841
8.00 0.160 961
9.00 0.180 1080
10.0 0.200 1200
20.0 0.399 2400
30.0 0.599 3600
40.0 0.799 4800
50.0 0.998 6010
60.0 1.20 7210
70.0 1.40 8410
80.0 1.60 9610
90.0 1.80 1.08 × 104
100 2.00 1.20 × 104
200 3.99 2.40 × 104
200 4.00 2.41 × 104
Aluminum I Beam: 4.00 × 2.311 (4.00 inch tall × 2.311 lbf/ft)
L = 20.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
2.31 0.146 493
3.00 0.189 641
4.00 0.252 854
5.00 0.315 1070
6.00 0.379 1280
7.00 0.442 1490
8.00 0.505 1710
9.00 0.568 1920
10.0 0.631 2140
20.0 1.26 4270
30.0 1.89 6410
40.0 2.52 8540
50.0 3.15 1.07 × 104
60.0 3.79 1.28 × 104
63.4 4.00 1.35 × 104
Aluminum I Beam: 4.00 × 2.311 (4.00 inch tall × 2.311 lbf/ft)
L = 25.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
2.31 0.356 771
3.00 0.462 1000
4.00 0.616 1330
5.00 0.770 1670
6.00 0.924 2000
7.00 1.08 2340
8.00 1.23 2670
9.00 1.39 3000
10.0 1.54 3340
20.0 3.08 6670
26.0 4.00 8660
Aluminum I Beam: 4.00 × 2.311 (4.00 inch tall × 2.311 lbf/ft)
L = 30.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
2.31 0.738 1110
3.00 0.958 1440
4.00 1.28 1920
5.00 1.60 2400
6.00 1.92 2880
7.00 2.24 3360
8.00 2.56 3840
9.00 2.87 4320
10.0 3.19 4800
12.5 4.00 6020
Aluminum I Beam: 4.00 × 2.311 (4.00 inch tall × 2.311 lbf/ft)
L = 40.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
2.31 2.33 1970
3.00 3.03 2560
3.96 4.00 3380
Additional Information
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Selecting the Right 3D Printer

Discover how to choose the right 3D printer for your needs and the key performance attributes to consider.

Mechanical Engineers Outlook

Guide for those interested in becoming a mechanical engineer. Includes qualifications, pay, and job duties.

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

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more publications