Liggers

A beam is a straight, long structural member designed to support loads applied at various points along the member.

Beams can be classified based on geometry, cross-section, support type, and equilibrium condition.

Based on geometry, beams can be straight, tapered, or curved.

They can have different cross-section shapes, like an I-beam, a T-beam, an L-beam, a C-beam, or a rectangular beam.

Depending on the support, beams can be classified as simply supported, overhanging,  continuous, cantilever, or fixed. The distance between its supports is called the span of the beam.

A simply supported beam is supported on both ends, while an overhanging beam extends beyond one of its supports.

The cantilever beam is fixed at one end and extends from the fixed end.

A continuous beam is supported at more than two points, while a fixed beam can be fixed at both ends or can be supported at one end.

The reactions at the beam supports can be statically determinate if the supports involve only three unknowns. If there are additional unknowns, the beam is statically indeterminate.