Beam and Column Calculator

Calculate beams and columns

1. On the ribbon, click Design tabFrame panelBeam/Column Calculator.
2. Specify parameters of the component. There are three ways how to define the parameters of the component:
   • Click the Size column and enter the data to the edit fields manually.
   • Make sure that Object is selected. Select the component in the graphics window. The generator reads the data from component and enters them to the table. Parameters that were transferred from Autodesk Inventor by a calculator are grayed out and edit fields are locked, by default. You can unlock the edit fields and edit such parameters. Parameters that were not transferred from Autodesk Inventor are displayed in black and you can enter their values manually. You cannot lock such edit fields. However, the calculator is not able to read the Section Modulus, (W_x, W_y) Torsional Section Modulus (W_k), and Torsional Rigidity Modulus (J_k) data. However, components inserted from Content Center have all data.
   • Click Section, select a beam shape and set the appropriate dimensions.
3. On the Model tab:
   • In the Calculation Type group box, select the type of calculation you want to perform. According to your selection, the Beam Calculation or Column Calculation tabs are enabled. (They can be enabled at the same time).
   • In the Material group box, specify the material values. Check the box to open Material Database where you can edit the values in the table.
4. On the Beam Calculation tab, specify calculation properties, and specify loads and supports.
   Note The Beam Calculation tab is enabled if you select Beam Calculation option in the Calculation Type area on the Model tab.
5. On the Beam Graphs tab, view the diagrams of individual beam loadings, force or moment for example.
   Note The Graphs tab is enabled if you select Beam Calculation option in the Calculation Type area of the Model tab.
6. On the Column Calculation tab, specify calculation properties, and specify loads and supports.
   Note The Column Calculation tab is enabled if you select Column Calculation option in the Calculation Type area of the Model tab.
7. Click Calculate to perform the calculation. Result values are displayed in the Results area on the right side of the Beam and Column Calculation tabs, and the Beam Graphs tab.
8. Click Results to display the HTML report.
9. Click OK to insert selected calculation into Autodesk Inventor.

Enter component section values to Beam and Column Calculator

When you want to perform beam or column calculation, you need model data to perform the calculation and set Loads and Supports. You enter model data in the Beam / Column Component area on the Model tab. There are three ways to get the model data.

Enter values manually

In the Beam / Column Component area, enter values for your beam or column component manually. Click the value in the Size column and enter the value. We recommend entering all values. However they are not mandatory and the calculation will be inserted into Autodesk Inventor graphics area. When you switch to Beam Calculation tab and click Calculate, the calculation will fail and messages in the Summary of Messages area inform you that values for parameters cannot be zero to perform the calculation successfully.

Use the Section command

1. On the Design tab, In the Beam / Column Component area, click the Section command.
   NoteThe Flip Section button turns beam section by 90 degrees and changes values for the beam section dimensions. It switches X and Y axes.
2. The list of possible sections is available. Select the appropriate section profile. In the appropriate dialog box, enter the section values. Dimensions and values such as Section Modulus or Moment of Inertia are automatically inserted into the edit fields in the Beam / Column Component area.

Read data from Content Center part

When your assembly contains a part inserted using Content Center, the Beam and Column Calculator is able to read the data of the part.

1. In an assembly file, click Assemble tabComponent panel Place from Content Center.
2. In the Category View, select Structural Shapes, and select the part you want to insert.
3. Double-click the part to open the part dialog box. Select parameters of the part.
4. Click OK to insert the part into the assembly. In the Save As dialog box, specify the part name and its location.
5. On the ribbon, click Design tabFrame panelBeam/Column Calculator .
6. On the Model tab, make sure the Object command is selected. Select the part in the graphics window. All necessary data are inserted into the Beam and Column Calculator. The data in gray are not editable.
   NoteBe aware that not all Content Center parts have all data available. Insert the missing data to Model tab manually.
7. To change values, click the lock icon next to particular edit field. The edit field is enabled and you can edit the value.

Edit beams and columns using Beam and Column Calculator

Open the Autodesk Inventor assembly with the already inserted Design Accelerator beam or column. Select the beam or column, right-click to display the context menu, and then select the Edit Using Design Accelerator command. Edit the beam or column. If you change calculation values, click Calculate to see the strength check. Calculation results are displayed in the Results area. The inputs that fail the calculation are displayed in red (their value does not correspond with other inserted values or calculation criteria). Reports of the calculation are displayed in the Summary of Messages area. Click OK.