Essentials of Manufacturing

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

CNC Machining Design Guide

Optimize your designs, reduce machining time, and lower your costs.

Injection Molding Design Guide

Guide for high quality and cost-effective plastic injection molding.

3D Scanners

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

more free publications

Materials

Design

Processes

Units

Formulas

Math
Glossary » Beams » Simply Supported » Uniformly Distributed Load » Three 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 three equal spans, we compute the displacement at the middle of the first and the third spans, and the maximum normal stress stress_max occuring at the second and third 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 3.84 × 10-6 8.29
40.0 4.39 × 10-6 9.47
50.0 5.48 × 10-6 11.8
60.0 6.58 × 10-6 14.2
70.0 7.68 × 10-6 16.6
80.0 8.77 × 10-6 18.9
90.0 9.87 × 10-6 21.3
100 1.10 × 10-5 23.7
200 2.19 × 10-5 47.4
300 3.29 × 10-5 71.1
400 4.39 × 10-5 94.7
500 5.48 × 10-5 118
600 6.58 × 10-5 142
700 7.68 × 10-5 166
800 8.77 × 10-5 189
900 9.87 × 10-5 213
1000 1.10 × 10-4 237
2000 2.19 × 10-4 474
3000 3.29 × 10-4 711
4000 4.39 × 10-4 947
5000 5.48 × 10-4 1180
6000 6.58 × 10-4 1420
7000 7.68 × 10-4 1660
8000 8.77 × 10-4 1890
9000 9.87 × 10-4 2130
1.00 × 104 0.00110 2370
2.00 × 104 0.00219 4740
3.00 × 104 0.00329 7110
4.00 × 104 0.00439 9470
5.00 × 104 0.00548 1.18 × 104
6.00 × 104 0.00658 1.42 × 104
7.00 × 104 0.00768 1.66 × 104
8.00 × 104 0.00877 1.89 × 104
9.00 × 104 0.00987 2.13 × 104
1.00 × 105 0.0110 2.37 × 104
2.00 × 105 0.0219 4.74 × 104
3.00 × 105 0.0329 7.11 × 104
4.00 × 105 0.0439 9.47 × 104
5.00 × 105 0.0548 1.18 × 105
6.00 × 105 0.0658 1.42 × 105
7.00 × 105 0.0768 1.66 × 105
8.00 × 105 0.0877 1.89 × 105
9.00 × 105 0.0987 2.13 × 105
1.00 × 106 0.110 2.37 × 105
1.25 × 106 0.138 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 2.96 × 10-5 23.0
40.0 3.38 × 10-5 26.3
50.0 4.23 × 10-5 32.9
60.0 5.08 × 10-5 39.5
70.0 5.92 × 10-5 46.1
80.0 6.77 × 10-5 52.6
90.0 7.61 × 10-5 59.2
100 8.46 × 10-5 65.8
200 1.69 × 10-4 132
300 2.54 × 10-4 197
400 3.38 × 10-4 263
500 4.23 × 10-4 329
600 5.08 × 10-4 395
700 5.92 × 10-4 461
800 6.77 × 10-4 526
900 7.61 × 10-4 592
1000 8.46 × 10-4 658
2000 0.00169 1320
3000 0.00254 1970
4000 0.00338 2630
5000 0.00423 3290
6000 0.00508 3950
7000 0.00592 4610
8000 0.00677 5260
9000 0.00761 5920
1.00 × 104 0.00846 6580
2.00 × 104 0.0169 1.32 × 104
3.00 × 104 0.0254 1.97 × 104
4.00 × 104 0.0338 2.63 × 104
5.00 × 104 0.0423 3.29 × 104
6.00 × 104 0.0508 3.95 × 104
7.00 × 104 0.0592 4.61 × 104
8.00 × 104 0.0677 5.26 × 104
9.00 × 104 0.0761 5.92 × 104
1.00 × 105 0.0846 6.58 × 104
2.00 × 105 0.169 1.32 × 105
3.00 × 105 0.254 1.97 × 105
4.00 × 105 0.338 2.63 × 105
4.51 × 105 0.382 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 4.74 × 10-4 92.1
40.0 5.41 × 10-4 105
50.0 6.77 × 10-4 132
60.0 8.12 × 10-4 158
70.0 9.48 × 10-4 184
80.0 0.00108 211
90.0 0.00122 237
100 0.00135 263
200 0.00271 526
300 0.00406 789
400 0.00541 1050
500 0.00677 1320
600 0.00812 1580
700 0.00948 1840
800 0.0108 2110
900 0.0122 2370
1000 0.0135 2630
2000 0.0271 5260
3000 0.0406 7890
4000 0.0541 1.05 × 104
5000 0.0677 1.32 × 104
6000 0.0812 1.58 × 104
7000 0.0948 1.84 × 104
8000 0.108 2.11 × 104
9000 0.122 2.37 × 104
1.00 × 104 0.135 2.63 × 104
2.00 × 104 0.271 5.26 × 104
3.00 × 104 0.406 7.89 × 104
4.00 × 104 0.541 1.05 × 105
5.00 × 104 0.677 1.32 × 105
6.00 × 104 0.812 1.58 × 105
7.00 × 104 0.948 1.84 × 105
8.00 × 104 1.08 2.11 × 105
9.00 × 104 1.22 2.37 × 105
1.00 × 105 1.35 2.63 × 105
1.13 × 105 1.53 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 0.00240 207
40.0 0.00274 237
50.0 0.00343 296
60.0 0.00411 355
70.0 0.00480 414
80.0 0.00548 474
90.0 0.00617 533
100 0.00685 592
200 0.0137 1180
300 0.0206 1780
400 0.0274 2370
500 0.0343 2960
600 0.0411 3550
700 0.0480 4140
800 0.0548 4740
900 0.0617 5330
1000 0.0685 5920
2000 0.137 1.18 × 104
3000 0.206 1.78 × 104
4000 0.274 2.37 × 104
5000 0.343 2.96 × 104
6000 0.411 3.55 × 104
7000 0.480 4.14 × 104
8000 0.548 4.74 × 104
9000 0.617 5.33 × 104
1.00 × 104 0.685 5.92 × 104
2.00 × 104 1.37 1.18 × 105
3.00 × 104 2.06 1.78 × 105
4.00 × 104 2.74 2.37 × 105
5.00 × 104 3.43 2.96 × 105
5.02 × 104 3.44 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 0.00758 368
40.0 0.00866 421
50.0 0.0108 526
60.0 0.0130 632
70.0 0.0152 737
80.0 0.0173 842
90.0 0.0195 947
100 0.0217 1050
200 0.0433 2110
300 0.0650 3160
400 0.0866 4210
500 0.108 5260
600 0.130 6320
700 0.152 7370
800 0.173 8420
900 0.195 9470
1000 0.217 1.05 × 104
2000 0.433 2.11 × 104
3000 0.650 3.16 × 104
4000 0.866 4.21 × 104
5000 1.08 5.26 × 104
6000 1.30 6.32 × 104
7000 1.52 7.37 × 104
8000 1.73 8.42 × 104
9000 1.95 9.47 × 104
1.00 × 104 2.17 1.05 × 105
2.00 × 104 4.33 2.11 × 105
2.82 × 104 6.11 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 0.0185 576
40.0 0.0212 658
50.0 0.0264 822
60.0 0.0317 987
70.0 0.0370 1150
80.0 0.0423 1320
90.0 0.0476 1480
100 0.0529 1640
200 0.106 3290
300 0.159 4930
400 0.212 6580
500 0.264 8220
600 0.317 9870
700 0.370 1.15 × 104
800 0.423 1.32 × 104
900 0.476 1.48 × 104
1000 0.529 1.64 × 104
2000 1.06 3.29 × 104
3000 1.59 4.93 × 104
4000 2.12 6.58 × 104
5000 2.64 8.22 × 104
6000 3.17 9.87 × 104
7000 3.70 1.15 × 105
8000 4.23 1.32 × 105
9000 4.76 1.48 × 105
1.00 × 104 5.29 1.64 × 105
1.81 × 104 9.55 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 0.0384 829
40.0 0.0439 947
50.0 0.0548 1180
60.0 0.0658 1420
70.0 0.0768 1660
80.0 0.0877 1890
90.0 0.0987 2130
100 0.110 2370
200 0.219 4740
300 0.329 7110
400 0.439 9470
500 0.548 1.18 × 104
600 0.658 1.42 × 104
700 0.768 1.66 × 104
800 0.877 1.89 × 104
900 0.987 2.13 × 104
1000 1.10 2.37 × 104
2000 2.19 4.74 × 104
3000 3.29 7.11 × 104
4000 4.39 9.47 × 104
5000 5.48 1.18 × 105
6000 6.58 1.42 × 105
7000 7.68 1.66 × 105
8000 8.77 1.89 × 105
9000 9.87 2.13 × 105
1.00 × 104 11.0 2.37 × 105
1.25 × 104 13.8 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 0.121 1470
40.0 0.139 1680
50.0 0.173 2110
60.0 0.208 2530
70.0 0.243 2950
80.0 0.277 3370
90.0 0.312 3790
100 0.347 4210
200 0.693 8420
300 1.04 1.26 × 104
400 1.39 1.68 × 104
500 1.73 2.11 × 104
600 2.08 2.53 × 104
700 2.43 2.95 × 104
800 2.77 3.37 × 104
900 3.12 3.79 × 104
1000 3.47 4.21 × 104
2000 6.93 8.42 × 104
3000 10.4 1.26 × 105
3610 12.5 1.52 × 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 0.296 2300
40.0 0.338 2630
50.0 0.423 3290
60.0 0.508 3950
70.0 0.592 4610
80.0 0.677 5260
90.0 0.761 5920
100 0.846 6580
200 1.69 1.32 × 104
300 2.54 1.97 × 104
400 3.38 2.63 × 104
500 4.23 3.29 × 104
600 5.08 3.95 × 104
700 5.92 4.61 × 104
800 6.77 5.26 × 104
900 7.61 5.92 × 104
1000 8.46 6.58 × 104
1480 12.5 9.72 × 104
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 0.614 3320
40.0 0.702 3790
50.0 0.877 4740
60.0 1.05 5680
70.0 1.23 6630
80.0 1.40 7580
90.0 1.58 8530
100 1.75 9470
200 3.51 1.89 × 104
300 5.26 2.84 × 104
400 7.02 3.79 × 104
500 8.77 4.74 × 104
600 10.5 5.68 × 104
700 12.3 6.63 × 104
713 12.5 6.75 × 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 1.14 4510
40.0 1.30 5160
50.0 1.63 6450
60.0 1.95 7740
70.0 2.28 9030
80.0 2.60 1.03 × 104
90.0 2.93 1.16 × 104
100 3.25 1.29 × 104
200 6.50 2.58 × 104
300 9.75 3.87 × 104
385 12.5 4.96 × 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 1.94 5890
40.0 2.22 6740
50.0 2.77 8420
60.0 3.33 1.01 × 104
70.0 3.88 1.18 × 104
80.0 4.44 1.35 × 104
90.0 4.99 1.52 × 104
100 5.54 1.68 × 104
200 11.1 3.37 × 104
225 12.5 3.80 × 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 3.11 7460
40.0 3.55 8530
50.0 4.44 1.07 × 104
60.0 5.33 1.28 × 104
70.0 6.22 1.49 × 104
80.0 7.11 1.71 × 104
90.0 7.99 1.92 × 104
100 8.88 2.13 × 104
141 12.5 3.00 × 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 4.74 9210
40.0 5.41 1.05 × 104
50.0 6.77 1.32 × 104
60.0 8.12 1.58 × 104
70.0 9.48 1.84 × 104
80.0 10.8 2.11 × 104
90.0 12.2 2.37 × 104
92.3 12.5 2.43 × 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 11.6 1.44 × 104
37.8 12.5 1.56 × 104
Additional Information
Related Pages
FREE Publications
Essentials of Manufacturing

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

CNC Machining Design Guide

Optimize your designs, reduce machining time, and lower your costs.

Injection Molding Design Guide

Guide for high quality and cost-effective plastic injection molding.

3D Scanners

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

more publications