What size simply supported universal beam would I need
to support a universially distributed load of 2000kg over
a 5meter span with a deflection of up to 20mm?
What size simply supported universal beam would I need to support a universially distributed load of 2000kg over a 5 meter span with a deflection of up to 20mm?
It is equation (2) that you need (the one with 5/384 in it). You know everything apart from EI. See what your minimum EI needs to be when you plug in load (2000 kg is 20 kN), span and deflection (make sure to use same units for both). EI for every section is given in section tables. Find section from tables that exceeds this.
Without looking, I cannot remember. But for an I-beam, the EI value is way bigger when bent as an I than when it is bent as an H.
The E value is a property of the material (so is constant whichever way you bend it). The I value is a property of the geometry/shape (and for a simple rectangle is proportional to the cube of its depth). Hence a deep, skinny section has much better resistance than a shallow, wide section.