A rigid structural member designed to carry and transfer transverse loads across space to supporting elements

• Beam

• Foundation

• Footing

• Column

The extent of space between two supports of a structure. Also, the structure so supported.

• Span

• Clear span

• Effective span

The distance between the inner faces of the supports of a span

• Span

• Clear span

• Effective span

The center-to-center distance between the supports of a span

• Span

• Clear span

• Effective span

An external moment tending to cause part of a structure to rotate or bend, equal to the algebraic sum of the moments about the neutral axis of the section under consideration

• Bending moment

• Resisting moment

• Deflection

• Camber

An internal moment equal and opposite to a bending moment, generated by a force couple to maintain equilibrium of the section being considered

• Bending moment

• Resisting moment

• Deflection

• Camber

The perpendicular distance a spanning member deviates from a true course under transverse loading, increasing with load and span, and decreasing with an increase in the moment of inertia of the section or the modulus of elasticity of the material

• Bending moment

• Resisting moment

• Deflection

• Camber

A slight convex curvature intentionally built into a beam, girder, or truss to compensate for an anticipated deflection

• Bending moment

• Resisting moment

• Deflection

• Camber

A shear force at a cross section of a beam or other member subject to bending, equal to the algebraic sum of transverse forces on one side of the section

• Transverse shear

• Horizontal shearing stress

• Neutral axis

• Bending stress

• Vertical shearing stress

The shearing stress developed to prevent slippage along horizontal planes of a beam under transverse loading, equal at any point to the vertical shearing stress at that point. Also called longitudinal shearing stress.

• Transverse shear

• Horizontal shearing stress

• Neutral axis

• Bending stress

• Vertical shearing stress