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Advanced Load Case

Triangular Load Beam Deflection Calculator

Estimate deflection, reactions, shear, and bending moment for a simply supported beam under a full-span triangular load.

Use meters for geometry, kN/m for the peak triangular load, GPa for E, and cm^4 for I.

Calculation Inputs
Beam Diagram
Span
Maximum deflection5.87 mm
Maximum moment16.18 kN*m
Maximum shear13.14 kN
Support reactions2
Calculation Basis
Method1D stiffness method for indeterminate beam systems
ScopeHyperstatic and multi-span preliminary beam checks
ReviewTechnically reviewed: 2026-04-15

Assumptions & Limits

  • The model represents 2D bending response only and does not include torsion.
  • Supports are idealized as analytical boundary conditions.
  • Construction stages, nonlinearity, and settlement effects need a more detailed model.

Reference Basis

Shear Force Diagram
13.14 kNx = L
Bending Moment Diagram
16.18 kN*mx = L
Response Summary
Left supportV = 7.00 kN
Right supportV = 14.00 kN
Calculation Method

Beam model

General form

K d = F

Current model

Supports: Left support @ 0.00 m, Right support @ 6.00 m. E = 210.0 GPa, I = 4,800 cm^4.

Result

Euler-Bernoulli beam under linearly varying distributed load

Load setup

General form

F = F_point + F_distributed

Current model

No discrete point loads. w(x): 0.00 to 7.00 kN/m over 0.00-6.00 m.

Result

Max deflection = 5.87 mm

Internal response

General form

M(x) = E I y''(x), V(x) = dM/dx

Current model

Max |M| = 16.18 kN*m, max |V| = 13.14 kN.

Result

Reactions solved at 2 support locations

Model Assumptions
  • The beam is simply supported at both ends.
  • The triangular load ramps from zero at the left end to the peak value at the right end.
  • The model is linear elastic with constant member stiffness.
Related Tools
  • This page captures a common load pattern that generic uniform-load calculators miss: one-way ramps such as pressure buildup, fill, or tapered tributary loading.
  • The solver resolves reactions and diagrams directly from the triangular load rather than replacing it with an equivalent uniform shortcut in the UI.
  • If the real triangular load is partial, reversed, or combined with multiple other load patterns, it should be modeled separately or through a more general beam analysis tool.