What pushes?
A beam may carry the weight of a floor, roof, or object. The load bends the beam and creates internal stresses.
ENGINEERING · STRUCTURES
Compression
beams.
A first look at how a beam carries a load, how compression travels through a structure, and why shape and support matter.
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THE CORE IDEA
Forces need a path.
When a load pushes down on a beam, internal forces move through the material toward its supports.
What gets squeezed?
In a simply supported beam under a downward load, the upper region is commonly in compression while the lower region is in tension.
Where does force go?
Supports transfer forces into columns, walls, or foundations. Span, cross-section, material, and connections affect performance.
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Concept model — Real structural design depends on load cases, material properties, geometry, connections, and applicable building codes.
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