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Glossary » Beams » Simply Supported » Uniformly Distributed Load » Three Equal Spans » Wide Flange Steel I Beam » W16 × 26
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 = 301 in4) for the W16 × 26 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: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 3.00 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 2.70 × 10-6 7.32
30.0 3.11 × 10-6 8.44
40.0 4.15 × 10-6 11.3
50.0 5.19 × 10-6 14.1
60.0 6.23 × 10-6 16.9
70.0 7.27 × 10-6 19.7
80.0 8.31 × 10-6 22.5
90.0 9.34 × 10-6 25.3
100 1.04 × 10-5 28.1
200 2.08 × 10-5 56.3
300 3.11 × 10-5 84.4
400 4.15 × 10-5 113
500 5.19 × 10-5 141
600 6.23 × 10-5 169
700 7.27 × 10-5 197
800 8.31 × 10-5 225
900 9.34 × 10-5 253
1000 1.04 × 10-4 281
2000 2.08 × 10-4 563
3000 3.11 × 10-4 844
4000 4.15 × 10-4 1130
5000 5.19 × 10-4 1410
6000 6.23 × 10-4 1690
7000 7.27 × 10-4 1970
8000 8.31 × 10-4 2250
9000 9.34 × 10-4 2530
1.00 × 104 0.00104 2810
2.00 × 104 0.00208 5630
3.00 × 104 0.00311 8440
4.00 × 104 0.00415 1.13 × 104
5.00 × 104 0.00519 1.41 × 104
6.00 × 104 0.00623 1.69 × 104
7.00 × 104 0.00727 1.97 × 104
8.00 × 104 0.00831 2.25 × 104
9.00 × 104 0.00934 2.53 × 104
1.00 × 105 0.0104 2.81 × 104
2.00 × 105 0.0208 5.63 × 104
3.00 × 105 0.0311 8.44 × 104
4.00 × 105 0.0415 1.13 × 105
5.00 × 105 0.0519 1.41 × 105
6.00 × 105 0.0623 1.69 × 105
7.00 × 105 0.0727 1.97 × 105
8.00 × 105 0.0831 2.25 × 105
9.00 × 105 0.0934 2.53 × 105
1.00 × 106 0.104 2.81 × 105
1.06 × 106 0.110 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 5.00 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 2.08 × 10-5 20.3
30.0 2.40 × 10-5 23.5
40.0 3.20 × 10-5 31.3
50.0 4.01 × 10-5 39.1
60.0 4.81 × 10-5 46.9
70.0 5.61 × 10-5 54.7
80.0 6.41 × 10-5 62.6
90.0 7.21 × 10-5 70.4
100 8.01 × 10-5 78.2
200 1.60 × 10-4 156
300 2.40 × 10-4 235
400 3.20 × 10-4 313
500 4.01 × 10-4 391
600 4.81 × 10-4 469
700 5.61 × 10-4 547
800 6.41 × 10-4 626
900 7.21 × 10-4 704
1000 8.01 × 10-4 782
2000 0.00160 1560
3000 0.00240 2350
4000 0.00320 3130
5000 0.00401 3910
6000 0.00481 4690
7000 0.00561 5470
8000 0.00641 6260
9000 0.00721 7040
1.00 × 104 0.00801 7820
2.00 × 104 0.0160 1.56 × 104
3.00 × 104 0.0240 2.35 × 104
4.00 × 104 0.0320 3.13 × 104
5.00 × 104 0.0401 3.91 × 104
6.00 × 104 0.0481 4.69 × 104
7.00 × 104 0.0561 5.47 × 104
8.00 × 104 0.0641 6.26 × 104
9.00 × 104 0.0721 7.04 × 104
1.00 × 105 0.0801 7.82 × 104
2.00 × 105 0.160 1.56 × 105
3.00 × 105 0.240 2.35 × 105
3.80 × 105 0.304 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 10.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 3.33 × 10-4 81.3
30.0 3.85 × 10-4 93.8
40.0 5.13 × 10-4 125
50.0 6.41 × 10-4 156
60.0 7.69 × 10-4 188
70.0 8.97 × 10-4 219
80.0 0.00103 250
90.0 0.00115 281
100 0.00128 313
200 0.00256 626
300 0.00385 938
400 0.00513 1250
500 0.00641 1560
600 0.00769 1880
700 0.00897 2190
800 0.0103 2500
900 0.0115 2810
1000 0.0128 3130
2000 0.0256 6260
3000 0.0385 9380
4000 0.0513 1.25 × 104
5000 0.0641 1.56 × 104
6000 0.0769 1.88 × 104
7000 0.0897 2.19 × 104
8000 0.103 2.50 × 104
9000 0.115 2.81 × 104
1.00 × 104 0.128 3.13 × 104
2.00 × 104 0.256 6.26 × 104
3.00 × 104 0.385 9.38 × 104
4.00 × 104 0.513 1.25 × 105
5.00 × 104 0.641 1.56 × 105
6.00 × 104 0.769 1.88 × 105
7.00 × 104 0.897 2.19 × 105
8.00 × 104 1.03 2.50 × 105
9.00 × 104 1.15 2.81 × 105
9.50 × 104 1.22 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 15.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 0.00169 183
30.0 0.00195 211
40.0 0.00260 281
50.0 0.00324 352
60.0 0.00389 422
70.0 0.00454 493
80.0 0.00519 563
90.0 0.00584 633
100 0.00649 704
200 0.0130 1410
300 0.0195 2110
400 0.0260 2810
500 0.0324 3520
600 0.0389 4220
700 0.0454 4930
800 0.0519 5630
900 0.0584 6330
1000 0.0649 7040
2000 0.130 1.41 × 104
3000 0.195 2.11 × 104
4000 0.260 2.81 × 104
5000 0.324 3.52 × 104
6000 0.389 4.22 × 104
7000 0.454 4.93 × 104
8000 0.519 5.63 × 104
9000 0.584 6.33 × 104
1.00 × 104 0.649 7.04 × 104
2.00 × 104 1.30 1.41 × 105
3.00 × 104 1.95 2.11 × 105
4.00 × 104 2.60 2.81 × 105
4.22 × 104 2.74 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 20.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 0.00533 325
30.0 0.00615 375
40.0 0.00820 500
50.0 0.0103 626
60.0 0.0123 751
70.0 0.0144 876
80.0 0.0164 1000
90.0 0.0185 1130
100 0.0205 1250
200 0.0410 2500
300 0.0615 3750
400 0.0820 5000
500 0.103 6260
600 0.123 7510
700 0.144 8760
800 0.164 1.00 × 104
900 0.185 1.13 × 104
1000 0.205 1.25 × 104
2000 0.410 2.50 × 104
3000 0.615 3.75 × 104
4000 0.820 5.00 × 104
5000 1.03 6.26 × 104
6000 1.23 7.51 × 104
7000 1.44 8.76 × 104
8000 1.64 1.00 × 105
9000 1.85 1.13 × 105
1.00 × 104 2.05 1.25 × 105
2.00 × 104 4.10 2.50 × 105
2.37 × 104 4.87 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 25.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 0.0130 508
30.0 0.0150 586
40.0 0.0200 782
50.0 0.0250 977
60.0 0.0300 1170
70.0 0.0350 1370
80.0 0.0401 1560
90.0 0.0451 1760
100 0.0501 1950
200 0.100 3910
300 0.150 5860
400 0.200 7820
500 0.250 9770
600 0.300 1.17 × 104
700 0.350 1.37 × 104
800 0.401 1.56 × 104
900 0.451 1.76 × 104
1000 0.501 1.95 × 104
2000 1.00 3.91 × 104
3000 1.50 5.86 × 104
4000 2.00 7.82 × 104
5000 2.50 9.77 × 104
6000 3.00 1.17 × 105
7000 3.50 1.37 × 105
8000 4.01 1.56 × 105
9000 4.51 1.76 × 105
1.00 × 104 5.01 1.95 × 105
1.52 × 104 7.61 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 30.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 0.0270 732
30.0 0.0311 844
40.0 0.0415 1130
50.0 0.0519 1410
60.0 0.0623 1690
70.0 0.0727 1970
80.0 0.0831 2250
90.0 0.0934 2530
100 0.104 2810
200 0.208 5630
300 0.311 8440
400 0.415 1.13 × 104
500 0.519 1.41 × 104
600 0.623 1.69 × 104
700 0.727 1.97 × 104
800 0.831 2.25 × 104
900 0.934 2.53 × 104
1000 1.04 2.81 × 104
2000 2.08 5.63 × 104
3000 3.11 8.44 × 104
4000 4.15 1.13 × 105
5000 5.19 1.41 × 105
6000 6.23 1.69 × 105
7000 7.27 1.97 × 105
8000 8.31 2.25 × 105
9000 9.34 2.53 × 105
1.00 × 104 10.4 2.81 × 105
1.06 × 104 11.0 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 40.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 0.0853 1300
30.0 0.0984 1500
40.0 0.131 2000
50.0 0.164 2500
60.0 0.197 3000
70.0 0.230 3500
80.0 0.262 4000
90.0 0.295 4500
100 0.328 5000
200 0.656 1.00 × 104
300 0.984 1.50 × 104
400 1.31 2.00 × 104
500 1.64 2.50 × 104
600 1.97 3.00 × 104
700 2.30 3.50 × 104
800 2.62 4.00 × 104
900 2.95 4.50 × 104
1000 3.28 5.00 × 104
2000 6.56 1.00 × 105
3000 9.84 1.50 × 105
4000 13.1 2.00 × 105
4780 15.7 2.39 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 50.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 0.208 2030
30.0 0.240 2350
40.0 0.320 3130
50.0 0.401 3910
60.0 0.481 4690
70.0 0.561 5470
80.0 0.641 6260
90.0 0.721 7040
100 0.801 7820
200 1.60 1.56 × 104
300 2.40 2.35 × 104
400 3.20 3.13 × 104
500 4.01 3.91 × 104
600 4.81 4.69 × 104
700 5.61 5.47 × 104
800 6.41 6.26 × 104
900 7.21 7.04 × 104
1000 8.01 7.82 × 104
1960 15.7 1.53 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 60.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 0.432 2930
30.0 0.498 3380
40.0 0.664 4500
50.0 0.831 5630
60.0 0.997 6760
70.0 1.16 7880
80.0 1.33 9010
90.0 1.49 1.01 × 104
100 1.66 1.13 × 104
200 3.32 2.25 × 104
300 4.98 3.38 × 104
400 6.64 4.50 × 104
500 8.31 5.63 × 104
600 9.97 6.76 × 104
700 11.6 7.88 × 104
800 13.3 9.01 × 104
900 14.9 1.01 × 105
945 15.7 1.06 × 105
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 70.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 0.800 3980
30.0 0.923 4600
40.0 1.23 6130
50.0 1.54 7660
60.0 1.85 9200
70.0 2.15 1.07 × 104
80.0 2.46 1.23 × 104
90.0 2.77 1.38 × 104
100 3.08 1.53 × 104
200 6.15 3.07 × 104
300 9.23 4.60 × 104
400 12.3 6.13 × 104
500 15.4 7.66 × 104
510 15.7 7.81 × 104
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 80.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 1.36 5200
30.0 1.57 6000
40.0 2.10 8010
50.0 2.62 1.00 × 104
60.0 3.15 1.20 × 104
70.0 3.67 1.40 × 104
80.0 4.20 1.60 × 104
90.0 4.72 1.80 × 104
100 5.25 2.00 × 104
200 10.5 4.00 × 104
299 15.7 5.98 × 104
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 90.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 2.19 6590
30.0 2.52 7600
40.0 3.36 1.01 × 104
50.0 4.20 1.27 × 104
60.0 5.05 1.52 × 104
70.0 5.89 1.77 × 104
80.0 6.73 2.03 × 104
90.0 7.57 2.28 × 104
100 8.41 2.53 × 104
187 15.7 4.73 × 104
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 100 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 3.33 8130
30.0 3.85 9380
40.0 5.13 1.25 × 104
50.0 6.41 1.56 × 104
60.0 7.69 1.88 × 104
70.0 8.97 2.19 × 104
80.0 10.3 2.50 × 104
90.0 11.5 2.81 × 104
100 12.8 3.13 × 104
122 15.7 3.83 × 104
Steel I Beam: W16 × 26 (Wide Flange 16 inch tall × 26 lbf/ft)
L = 125 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
26.0 8.14 1.27 × 104
30.0 9.39 1.47 × 104
40.0 12.5 1.95 × 104
50.0 15.6 2.44 × 104
50.1 15.7 2.45 × 104
Additional Information
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FREE Publications
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.

Metal 3D Printing Design Guide

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

Selecting the Right 3D Printer

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

more publications