Is this beam load calculator a substitute for a structural engineer?

No. It solves the statics equilibrium equations for support reactions, which is a useful first check, but a licensed structural engineer should verify load combinations, material capacity, and code compliance before construction.

What is a simply supported beam?

A beam resting on two supports — typically a pin at one end and a roller at the other — that is free to rotate at each support but restrained from moving vertically. It is the most common statics model for a single-span beam.

How much does a structural engineer charge to check beam reactions in Gibraltar?

A structural engineer in Gibraltar typically charges around £190-£700 to check and sign off a single support-reaction calculation, depending on the loading complexity and the wider job scope.

Beam Load Calculator (Gibraltar)

Beam Load Calculator: Support Reactions for a Simply Supported Beam

A beam load calculator finds the vertical support reactions at each end of a simply supported beam carrying one or more point loads and, optionally, a uniformly distributed load (UDL) — the first step before checking shear, bending moment, or deflection. It solves the statics equilibrium equations, so treat it as a quick engineering estimate, not a substitute for a licensed structural engineer's sign-off on a real structure.

How to use the beam load calculator

Enter the span length between the two supports.
Add each point load's force and its distance from support A (up to 10 loads) — use a negative force for an upward or uplift load.
Optionally enable a uniformly distributed load (UDL) across the full span and enter its intensity.
Read off the reaction forces at supports A and B, plus the shear force and bending moment at any position along the span.

The support reaction formulas

Support reactions follow from two statics equations. Taking moments about support A: RB = (F1·x1 + F2·x2 + ... + Fn·xn) / L, where each Fi is a point load and xi its distance from A. Support A then carries whatever load is left over: RA = ΣFi - RB. A full-span UDL of intensity w behaves like a single point load of w × L applied at midspan (L/2) in these equations.

Worked example: a 6 m beam carries a 5 kN load 2 m from support A and a 3 kN load 4 m from support A. Moment about A = (5 × 2) + (3 × 4) = 22 kN·m, so RB = 22 / 6 = 3.67 kN and RA = 8 - 3.67 = 4.33 kN (check: 4.33 + 3.67 = 8 kN, the total load).

Tips

A negative force models wind uplift or suction rather than a downward load — the reaction at that support can come out negative too, meaning the beam wants to lift off and may need a hold-down connection.

Reactions alone don't confirm the beam itself is strong enough — pair this result with a bending-stress or deflection check sized to the actual section before treating a design as final.

In Gibraltar, a structural engineer typically charges around £190-£700 to check and sign off a single beam support-reaction calculation, depending on the complexity of the loading involved.