Negotiate Your Salary

Learn the best principles to negotiate the salary you deserve!

Metal 3D Printing Design Guide

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

Mechanical Engineers Outlook

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

STEM Career Outlook

Wages, employment opportunities, and growth projections for STEM jobs.

more free publications

Materials

Design

Processes

Units

Formulas

Math
Glossary » Beams » Simply Supported » Uniformly Distributed Load » Two Equal Spans » S Section Steel I Beam » S12 × 50
S Section Steel I Beam | Single Span | Two Equal Spans | Three Equal Spans | Four Equal Spans

For a simply supported beam in two equal spans, we compute the displacement at the middle of each span w_mid and the maximum normal stress stress_max occuring at the center support of the beam.
The tabulated data listed in this page are calculated based on the area moment of inertia (Ixx = 305 in4) for the S12 × 50 S Section 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: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 3.00 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 3.92 × 10-6 13.3
60.0 4.71 × 10-6 15.9
70.0 5.49 × 10-6 18.6
80.0 6.28 × 10-6 21.2
90.0 7.06 × 10-6 23.9
100 7.85 × 10-6 26.6
200 1.57 × 10-5 53.1
300 2.35 × 10-5 79.7
400 3.14 × 10-5 106
500 3.92 × 10-5 133
600 4.71 × 10-5 159
700 5.49 × 10-5 186
800 6.28 × 10-5 212
900 7.06 × 10-5 239
1000 7.85 × 10-5 266
2000 1.57 × 10-4 531
3000 2.35 × 10-4 797
4000 3.14 × 10-4 1060
5000 3.92 × 10-4 1330
6000 4.71 × 10-4 1590
7000 5.49 × 10-4 1860
8000 6.28 × 10-4 2120
9000 7.06 × 10-4 2390
1.00 × 104 7.85 × 10-4 2660
2.00 × 104 0.00157 5310
3.00 × 104 0.00235 7970
4.00 × 104 0.00314 1.06 × 104
5.00 × 104 0.00392 1.33 × 104
6.00 × 104 0.00471 1.59 × 104
7.00 × 104 0.00549 1.86 × 104
8.00 × 104 0.00628 2.12 × 104
9.00 × 104 0.00706 2.39 × 104
1.00 × 105 0.00785 2.66 × 104
2.00 × 105 0.0157 5.31 × 104
3.00 × 105 0.0235 7.97 × 104
4.00 × 105 0.0314 1.06 × 105
5.00 × 105 0.0392 1.33 × 105
6.00 × 105 0.0471 1.59 × 105
7.00 × 105 0.0549 1.86 × 105
8.00 × 105 0.0628 2.12 × 105
9.00 × 105 0.0706 2.39 × 105
1.00 × 106 0.0785 2.66 × 105
1.12 × 106 0.0878 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 5.00 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 3.03 × 10-5 36.9
60.0 3.63 × 10-5 44.3
70.0 4.24 × 10-5 51.6
80.0 4.84 × 10-5 59.0
90.0 5.45 × 10-5 66.4
100 6.06 × 10-5 73.8
200 1.21 × 10-4 148
300 1.82 × 10-4 221
400 2.42 × 10-4 295
500 3.03 × 10-4 369
600 3.63 × 10-4 443
700 4.24 × 10-4 516
800 4.84 × 10-4 590
900 5.45 × 10-4 664
1000 6.06 × 10-4 738
2000 0.00121 1480
3000 0.00182 2210
4000 0.00242 2950
5000 0.00303 3690
6000 0.00363 4430
7000 0.00424 5160
8000 0.00484 5900
9000 0.00545 6640
1.00 × 104 0.00606 7380
2.00 × 104 0.0121 1.48 × 104
3.00 × 104 0.0182 2.21 × 104
4.00 × 104 0.0242 2.95 × 104
5.00 × 104 0.0303 3.69 × 104
6.00 × 104 0.0363 4.43 × 104
7.00 × 104 0.0424 5.16 × 104
8.00 × 104 0.0484 5.90 × 104
9.00 × 104 0.0545 6.64 × 104
1.00 × 105 0.0606 7.38 × 104
2.00 × 105 0.121 1.48 × 105
3.00 × 105 0.182 2.21 × 105
4.00 × 105 0.242 2.95 × 105
4.03 × 105 0.244 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 10.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 4.84 × 10-4 148
60.0 5.81 × 10-4 177
70.0 6.78 × 10-4 207
80.0 7.75 × 10-4 236
90.0 8.72 × 10-4 266
100 9.69 × 10-4 295
200 0.00194 590
300 0.00291 885
400 0.00388 1180
500 0.00484 1480
600 0.00581 1770
700 0.00678 2070
800 0.00775 2360
900 0.00872 2660
1000 0.00969 2950
2000 0.0194 5900
3000 0.0291 8850
4000 0.0388 1.18 × 104
5000 0.0484 1.48 × 104
6000 0.0581 1.77 × 104
7000 0.0678 2.07 × 104
8000 0.0775 2.36 × 104
9000 0.0872 2.66 × 104
1.00 × 104 0.0969 2.95 × 104
2.00 × 104 0.194 5.90 × 104
3.00 × 104 0.291 8.85 × 104
4.00 × 104 0.388 1.18 × 105
5.00 × 104 0.484 1.48 × 105
6.00 × 104 0.581 1.77 × 105
7.00 × 104 0.678 2.07 × 105
8.00 × 104 0.775 2.36 × 105
9.00 × 104 0.872 2.66 × 105
1.00 × 105 0.969 2.95 × 105
1.01 × 105 0.975 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 15.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 0.00245 332
60.0 0.00294 398
70.0 0.00343 465
80.0 0.00392 531
90.0 0.00441 598
100 0.00490 664
200 0.00981 1330
300 0.0147 1990
400 0.0196 2660
500 0.0245 3320
600 0.0294 3980
700 0.0343 4650
800 0.0392 5310
900 0.0441 5980
1000 0.0490 6640
2000 0.0981 1.33 × 104
3000 0.147 1.99 × 104
4000 0.196 2.66 × 104
5000 0.245 3.32 × 104
6000 0.294 3.98 × 104
7000 0.343 4.65 × 104
8000 0.392 5.31 × 104
9000 0.441 5.98 × 104
1.00 × 104 0.490 6.64 × 104
2.00 × 104 0.981 1.33 × 105
3.00 × 104 1.47 1.99 × 105
4.00 × 104 1.96 2.66 × 105
4.47 × 104 2.19 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 20.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 0.00775 590
60.0 0.00930 708
70.0 0.0109 826
80.0 0.0124 944
90.0 0.0140 1060
100 0.0155 1180
200 0.0310 2360
300 0.0465 3540
400 0.0620 4720
500 0.0775 5900
600 0.0930 7080
700 0.109 8260
800 0.124 9440
900 0.140 1.06 × 104
1000 0.155 1.18 × 104
2000 0.310 2.36 × 104
3000 0.465 3.54 × 104
4000 0.620 4.72 × 104
5000 0.775 5.90 × 104
6000 0.930 7.08 × 104
7000 1.09 8.26 × 104
8000 1.24 9.44 × 104
9000 1.40 1.06 × 105
1.00 × 104 1.55 1.18 × 105
2.00 × 104 3.10 2.36 × 105
2.52 × 104 3.90 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 25.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 0.0189 922
60.0 0.0227 1110
70.0 0.0265 1290
80.0 0.0303 1480
90.0 0.0341 1660
100 0.0378 1840
200 0.0757 3690
300 0.114 5530
400 0.151 7380
500 0.189 9220
600 0.227 1.11 × 104
700 0.265 1.29 × 104
800 0.303 1.48 × 104
900 0.341 1.66 × 104
1000 0.378 1.84 × 104
2000 0.757 3.69 × 104
3000 1.14 5.53 × 104
4000 1.51 7.38 × 104
5000 1.89 9.22 × 104
6000 2.27 1.11 × 105
7000 2.65 1.29 × 105
8000 3.03 1.48 × 105
9000 3.41 1.66 × 105
1.00 × 104 3.78 1.84 × 105
1.61 × 104 6.10 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 30.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 0.0392 1330
60.0 0.0471 1590
70.0 0.0549 1860
80.0 0.0628 2120
90.0 0.0706 2390
100 0.0785 2660
200 0.157 5310
300 0.235 7970
400 0.314 1.06 × 104
500 0.392 1.33 × 104
600 0.471 1.59 × 104
700 0.549 1.86 × 104
800 0.628 2.12 × 104
900 0.706 2.39 × 104
1000 0.785 2.66 × 104
2000 1.57 5.31 × 104
3000 2.35 7.97 × 104
4000 3.14 1.06 × 105
5000 3.92 1.33 × 105
6000 4.71 1.59 × 105
7000 5.49 1.86 × 105
8000 6.28 2.12 × 105
9000 7.06 2.39 × 105
1.00 × 104 7.85 2.66 × 105
1.12 × 104 8.78 2.97 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 40.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 0.124 2360
60.0 0.149 2830
70.0 0.174 3300
80.0 0.198 3780
90.0 0.223 4250
100 0.248 4720
200 0.496 9440
300 0.744 1.42 × 104
400 0.992 1.89 × 104
500 1.24 2.36 × 104
600 1.49 2.83 × 104
700 1.74 3.30 × 104
800 1.98 3.78 × 104
900 2.23 4.25 × 104
1000 2.48 4.72 × 104
2000 4.96 9.44 × 104
3000 7.44 1.42 × 105
4000 9.92 1.89 × 105
4840 12.0 2.28 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 50.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 0.303 3690
60.0 0.363 4430
70.0 0.424 5160
80.0 0.484 5900
90.0 0.545 6640
100 0.606 7380
200 1.21 1.48 × 104
300 1.82 2.21 × 104
400 2.42 2.95 × 104
500 3.03 3.69 × 104
600 3.63 4.43 × 104
700 4.24 5.16 × 104
800 4.84 5.90 × 104
900 5.45 6.64 × 104
1000 6.06 7.38 × 104
1980 12.0 1.46 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 60.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 0.628 5310
60.0 0.753 6370
70.0 0.879 7440
80.0 1.00 8500
90.0 1.13 9560
100 1.26 1.06 × 104
200 2.51 2.12 × 104
300 3.77 3.19 × 104
400 5.02 4.25 × 104
500 6.28 5.31 × 104
600 7.53 6.37 × 104
700 8.79 7.44 × 104
800 10.0 8.50 × 104
900 11.3 9.56 × 104
956 12.0 1.02 × 105
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 70.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 1.16 7230
60.0 1.40 8680
70.0 1.63 1.01 × 104
80.0 1.86 1.16 × 104
90.0 2.09 1.30 × 104
100 2.33 1.45 × 104
200 4.65 2.89 × 104
300 6.98 4.34 × 104
400 9.30 5.78 × 104
500 11.6 7.23 × 104
516 12.0 7.46 × 104
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 80.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 1.98 9440
60.0 2.38 1.13 × 104
70.0 2.78 1.32 × 104
80.0 3.17 1.51 × 104
90.0 3.57 1.70 × 104
100 3.97 1.89 × 104
200 7.94 3.78 × 104
300 11.9 5.67 × 104
302 12.0 5.71 × 104
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 90.0 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 3.18 1.20 × 104
60.0 3.81 1.43 × 104
70.0 4.45 1.67 × 104
80.0 5.09 1.91 × 104
90.0 5.72 2.15 × 104
100 6.36 2.39 × 104
189 12.0 4.51 × 104
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 100 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 4.84 1.48 × 104
60.0 5.81 1.77 × 104
70.0 6.78 2.07 × 104
80.0 7.75 2.36 × 104
90.0 8.72 2.66 × 104
100 9.69 2.95 × 104
124 12.0 3.65 × 104
Steel I Beam: S12 × 50 (S12 inch tall × 50 lbf/ft)
L = 125 ft
P (lbf/ft) w_max (in) stress_max (psi)
50.0 11.8 2.31 × 104
50.7 12.0 2.34 × 104
Additional Information
Related Pages
FREE Publications
Negotiate Your Salary

Learn the best principles to negotiate the salary you deserve!

Metal 3D Printing Design Guide

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

Mechanical Engineers Outlook

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

STEM Career Outlook

Wages, employment opportunities, and growth projections for STEM jobs.

more publications