Chap. I. REAMS AND PILLARS.

If the load bo terminal niul tlte depth conslant, the f(irm of the beam in breadth should be
wedgesliapcd, the breadth increasing as the length of the beam (the latter measured from
tlie loaded end). IL If tlie breadth be constant, the square of the depth must vary as the
lengtli, or the vertical section will be a parabola. JI[. Wlien both breadth and depth
vary, the section should present a cubical parabola. IV. When the beam supports only
its own weight, it should be a double paral)ola, that is, tlie upper as well as the lower sur-
face should be of a parabolic form, tlie depth being as the square of the length. V. When
a beam is loaded evenly along its surface, the upper surface being horizontal, the lower one
should be a straight line meeting the upper surface at the outer end, and forming a trian-
gular vertical section; the depth at the point of support being determined by the length
of the beam and the load to be sustained. VI. If an additional terminal load bo added to
such a beam, the under surface should be of a liy))erbolic curvature. VII. And in a flau'i-ed
beam, the lower flange should describe a parabolic curve (as in example IV^. ).
I()'i87.
"
Be ims mipportcd at both ends. I. A beam loaded at any one point, as scale
beams and the like, should have a parabolic vertical section each way from the loaded point,
A A.
fig.
6lSb. II. In flanged bco'iis, the
j:!
lines may be nearly straight, and approach
the straight lines more as the flanges are
^H K,'f|
thinner. III. A beam loaded uniformly
along the whole of its length, should have
I'ig.MJi).
^ij elliptic outline for the upper surface,
the lower one being straight. This form applies to girders for bridges and other purposes
where the load may be spread. IV. With thin flanges, a beam so circumstanced should
be of a parabolic figure. V. If a flanged beam have its upper and lower sides level, and
be loaded uniformly from end to end, the sides of the lower flange should have a paral)olic
curvature." (Gregory.) VI. In the case of example III., Fairbairn observes that the
greatest strength will be attained, while the breadth and depth is allowed to be diminished
towards the ends. This
diminution should take place
in curved lines which are
strictly jiaiabolic. The most
convenient way of doing this
is by preserving a horizontal
level in the bottom flange,
diminishing its width, as
'
, ,
well as the height of the
"'
' girder, asy?_(/. 613c. Thus the
spaces hb should be square on plan for the bearings on the wall, &c., and eijual to the width
of the bottom flange at the centre ;
the intermediate length I t) be curved to the form jue-
scribed. The width of the bottom flange is to be reduced near the ends to one half of its
size in the middle, and the total depth of the girder reduced at the ends in the same pro-
portion. At the middle of the bearing, a flange may be cast on to connect the upper and
lower flanges, and this will give additional stillness to the girder.
1628r. Gregory further remarks on this subject : when the depth
of
the beam is uniform,
and (VII.) the whole load is collected in one point (as
A,flg.
Gl;3rf.) the sides of the beam
should be straight lines, the breadth
K
>'i
^
at the ends, i>, being half that where
jD the load is applied.
VIII. When the load is uniformly
distributed
(fig.
61.'3e.) the sides
should be portions of a circle, the
radius of which should equal the square of the length of the beam divided by twice
its breadth. When the breadth
of
the beam is vniform and (IX.) the load is collected
in one point, the extended (under) side should be straight, the depth at the ])oint
where the load is applied twice that at the ends, and the lines connecting them
straight
(fig.
G13i. ) See examjile I. When the load is uniformly distributed, X. the ex-
tended (under) side should be straight, and the compressed (upper) side a portion of a
circle wliose radius equals the square of half the length of the be.im divided by its depth.
See examples III. and VI. W^ien the transverse secti^m of abeam is a similar figure
throughout its whole length; XI. if the load be collected at one point, the depth at this
point should be to the depth at its extremities as 3 : 2 : the sides of the beam being all
straight lines. XII. When the load is uniformly distributed, the depth in the centre
should be to the depth at the end as 3 : 1, the sides of the beam being all straight lines.
Various Laws AFrECTiNG Beams and Giuders.
1628a. The principles on which the rules subjoined are founded may be seen in Gregory,
Mechanics,
Sfc. and Barlow, Strength
of
Materials, but divested, certainly, of the refine-
, G13rf,