DEFLECTIONS OF STEPPED BEAMS AND GIRDERS.

Abstract

Stepped sections provide greater clearance under beams for the ducts and other mechanical systems which are often crowded into ceiling plenums. By proper selection, greater clearance may be achieved with the added benefit of reducing the weight of beams and girders. The reasons for their unpopularity are possibly due to the lack of familiarity with their deflection characteristics and the unavailability of deflection formulae for such beams and girders. Formulae for deflection and tables to assist in the selection of stepped sections are presented in this paper.