Metal I Beam Weight Calculator

Metal I-Beam Weight Calculator

Calculated Results

Total Weight: 0.00 kg

Weight per Meter: 0.00 kg/m

Total Weight (lbs): 0.00 lbs

function calculateBeamWeight() { var d = parseFloat(document.getElementById('depth').value); var w = parseFloat(document.getElementById('flange_width').value); var tf = parseFloat(document.getElementById('flange_thick').value); var tw = parseFloat(document.getElementById('web_thick').value); var l = parseFloat(document.getElementById('beam_length').value); var density = parseFloat(document.getElementById('material_density').value); if (isNaN(d) || isNaN(w) || isNaN(tf) || isNaN(tw) || isNaN(l) || d <= 0 || w <= 0 || tf <= 0 || tw <= 0 || l = d) { alert("Flange thickness cannot exceed half of the total depth."); return; } // Calculation Logic: // Area = (2 * Flange Area) + Web Area // Area = (2 * w * tf) + ((d – 2 * tf) * tw) // Units: mm to m Conversion needed for density calculation var flangeArea = 2 * w * tf; var webArea = (d – (2 * tf)) * tw; var totalAreaMm2 = flangeArea + webArea; // Convert mm^2 to m^2 (1 m^2 = 1,000,000 mm^2) var areaM2 = totalAreaMm2 / 1000000; // Weight per meter (kg/m) = Area(m^2) * Density(kg/m^3) var weightPerMeter = areaM2 * density; // Total Weight (kg) var totalWeightKg = weightPerMeter * l; var totalWeightLbs = totalWeightKg * 2.20462; document.getElementById('res_kg').innerText = totalWeightKg.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('res_kgm').innerText = weightPerMeter.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('res_lbs').innerText = totalWeightLbs.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('weight-result').style.display = 'block'; }

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Understanding Metal I-Beam Weight Calculations

Calculating the weight of an I-beam is a fundamental step in structural engineering, construction planning, and metal procurement. An I-beam, also known as a universal beam (UB) or H-beam, is characterized by its "I" or "H" shaped cross-section. The horizontal elements are known as flanges, while the vertical element is called the web.

The Formula for I-Beam Weight

To find the weight of a metal I-beam, we first determine the cross-sectional area and then multiply it by the length and the density of the material. The mathematical formula used in our calculator is:

Area = (2 × Width × Flange Thickness) + ((Depth – 2 × Flange Thickness) × Web Thickness)

Once the area is calculated in square millimeters (mm²), it is converted to square meters (m²) and multiplied by the material density (kg/m³). For standard structural steel, we use a density of approximately 7,850 kg/m³.

Key Variables Explained

• Depth (Height): The total vertical distance from the top flange to the bottom flange.
• Flange Width: The horizontal width of the top and bottom flat sections.
• Flange Thickness: The thickness of the horizontal sections.
• Web Thickness: The thickness of the vertical connecting section.
• Length: The total span of the beam in meters.

Common Uses of I-Beams

I-beams are designed to resist bending and shear loads in the plane of the web. They are extensively used in:

• Commercial Construction: Framework for skyscrapers and large warehouses.
• Residential Building: Support beams for open-concept floor plans and basement headers.
• Infrastructure: Bridge support structures and highway overpasses.
• Industrial Machinery: Frames for heavy equipment and trailers.

Practical Example

Suppose you have a steel I-beam with the following dimensions:

• Depth: 300mm
• Flange Width: 150mm
• Flange Thickness: 10mm
• Web Thickness: 6mm
• Length: 5 meters

The calculation would find a cross-sectional area of 4,680 mm². At a density of 7,850 kg/m³, this beam weighs approximately 36.74 kg per meter, totaling 183.70 kg for the full 5-meter span.