In construction, there are two types of load-bearing structures: vertical and horizontal. The former include external walls and interior partitions, while the latter include floor and ceiling slabs. Horizontal structures in low-rise construction are advantageously made of wood. Accurate calculation of wooden floor beams will not only provide the necessary strength, but also reduce construction costs.
The choice of materials is carried out at the stage of preparation for design. In the future, the calculation of the cross section of wooden floor beams is made based on the loads and the actual characteristics of the raw materials. The greatest use in construction received sawn timber from coniferous wood due to their prevalence. Their advantages are low cost and satisfactory strength characteristics.
Calculationloads and self-weight of structures
When installing the floors of the first floor, the logs on which the flooring of the boards rests have many intermediate supports into the ground. Therefore, there are no special difficulties with such bearing surfaces. The calculation of the wooden floor beams is made on the basis of the position that it is undesirable to install any supporting columns in the room.
The load on the floors is divided into constant and variable. The first arises from the own weight of the beams and other materials used for the installation and insulation of ceilings. If the house is one-story, then the variable load can be neglected. To estimate such a quantity of materials, you can use the calculator for calculating wooden floor beams in the form of a special computer program or application. However, the results obtained can be taken as indicative.
Beam design features
Based on the absolute load determined at the first stage, it is necessary to calculate its specific indicator. To do this, the total weight of the structure and objects that will be on it is divided by the total area. The calculation of wooden floor beams is carried out with a margin of safety, the value of which is determined in accordance with SNiP and other guidelines.
The load-bearing set of floors is made up of rectangular beams with a ratio of width and thickness of 14 to 10 and an optimal length of no more than 5.5 meters. Standard sizes of lumber producedwoodworking enterprises are close to this indicator and are considered optimal. The frequency of laying floor beams is one of the most important indicators that affect the ability of the bearing surface to withstand the load.
Ways to strengthen beams
The elements of the force set are installed in such a way that the large side is in the plane of application of forces, in our case - vertically. There are several ways to increase the bearing capacity: increase the frequency of laying beams, install double beams, or increase them in height. The limitation on this indicator is determined by two factors: the possibility of bending in a horizontal plane and the rational use of internal space.
A qualified calculation of wooden floor beams can only be made by a specialist: a civil engineer or an architect. When designing, a large number of factors are taken into account. It is also important that the performers have practical experience. However, at least a general understanding of the basics of settlements will allow the client to control the process.
