How to use the simply supported beam reactions calculator
Find the support reactions of a beam carrying a single point load. Enter point load, span between supports, distance of load from left support in the fields above; the left support reaction, right support reaction are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Common searches this calculator answers include “beam support forces”, “reaction at each end”, “shelf bracket load”, “calculate simply supported beam reactions”, “find left support reaction”.
Formula
Variables
- P — Point load (N)
- Lb — Span between supports (m)
- a — Distance of load from left support (m)
Worked example
With point load = 1000 N, span between supports = 6 m, distance of load from left support = 2 m, the calculator gives left support reaction ≈ 666.6667 N; right support reaction ≈ 333.3333 N.
Frequently asked questions
What is the simply supported beam reactions calculator used for?
Find the support reactions of a beam carrying a single point load. It helps with questions such as “beam support forces”, “reaction at each end”, “shelf bracket load”.
What is the formula for the simply supported beam reactions calculation?
Left support reaction (N) = P × (Lb-a) / Lb. Right support reaction (N) = P × a / Lb. Here P is point load (N), Lb is span between supports (m), a is distance of load from left support (m).
What inputs do I need for the simply supported beam reactions calculator?
You need point load in N, span between supports in m, distance of load from left support in m. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use the simply supported beam reactions calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the simply supported beam reactions result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.