In construction, two types of supporting structures are distinguished: vertical and horizontal. The former include exterior walls and interior partitions, while the latter include floor and ceiling ceilings. Horizontal structures in low-rise construction advantage are made of wood. Exact 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 based on the loads and the actual characteristics of the raw materials. Softwood lumber was most widely used in construction due to its prevalence. Their advantages are low cost and satisfactory strength characteristics.
Calculation of loads and dead weight of structures
When arranging the floors of the first floor, the logs, on which the flooring from the boards rests, have many intermediate supports in the ground. Therefore, there are no special difficulties with such bearing surfaces. The calculation of wooden floor beams is based on the position that it is undesirable to install any supporting columns in the room.
The load on the floor is divided into constant and variable. The first arises from the dead 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 assess this amount of materials, you can use the calculator for calculating wooden beams in the form of a special computer program or application. However, the results can be taken as indicative.
Features of the design of beam ceilings
Based on the absolute load determined at the first stage, it is necessary to calculate its specific indicator. For this, the total weight of the structure and the objects that will be on it is divided by the total area. 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 guidance documents.
The power set of the ceiling is made up of beams of rectangular cross section with a ratio of width and thickness of 14 to 10 and an optimal length of not more than 5.5 meters. The standard sizes of lumber produced by woodworking enterprises are close to this indicator and are considered optimal. The frequency of laying the floor beams is one of the most important indicators affecting the ability of the bearing surface to withstand the load.
Beam reinforcement methods
The elements of the power set are set so that the larger side is in the plane of application of forces, in our case, vertically. You can increase the bearing capacity in several ways: increase the frequency of laying beams, install double ones or increase them in height. The limitation on this indicator is determined by two factors: the possibility of bending in the horizontal plane and the rational use of internal space.
A qualified calculation of wooden floor beams can only be done by a specialist: a civil engineer or architect. When designing, a large number of factors are taken into account. Important is the presence of practical experience among performers. However, at least a general understanding of the basics of the calculations will allow the client to control the process.