Strength checks with utilization
Bending, shear, axial tension and axial compression, each with its phi capacity, utilization ratio and pass or fail status.
ACI 318-19 路 Beams
Free RC Beam Design Calculator
Design and check rectangular reinforced concrete beams for bending, shear and axial load to ACI 318-19. See every check with its utilization ratio, place bars freely, and download drawings and a calculation report.
Features
What Beam Design does
Detailing checks
Bar spacing, tension-controlled section, minimum flexural steel, shear section dimensions, minimum shear reinforcement and maximum stirrup spacing.
Simple or custom reinforcement
Use top and bottom layers, or place individual bars anywhere in the section on an interactive canvas.
Axial load included
Factored Mu, Vu and Pu. Combined axial and bending design applies when Pu reaches 0.10 f'c Ag (Cl 9.5.2.1).
Drawings for CAD
Cross-section and elevation drawings, downloadable as DXF for your CAD software or as PDF.
Reports and units
Detailed PDF design report, models you can save and reopen, and imperial or metric units.
Method
What the app checks
- Flexure by strain compatibility (ACI 318-19 Cl 22.2): the neutral axis is solved for the actual bar positions, including compression steel, with the 0.85 f'c stress block and beta1 from Table 22.2.2.4.3.
- The strength reduction factor phi depends on the net tensile strain (Table 21.2.2), and the app reports whether the section is tension-controlled, in the transition zone or compression-controlled.
- Shear to Cl 22.5 with the minimum shear reinforcement of Cl 9.6.3 and the maximum stirrup spacing of Cl 9.7.6.2.
- Minimum flexural reinforcement to Cl 9.6.1 and minimum bar spacing to Cl 25.2.1.
- Axial tension and compression capacities to Cl 22.4.
Get started
How to use it
- 01
Enter the beam width, depth and clear cover.
- 02
Add the top and bottom bars, or open the custom canvas and place bars anywhere.
- 03
Enter the stirrups, material strengths and the factored Mu, Vu and Pu.
- 04
Review the utilization and detailing checks, then download the report and drawings.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which checks are included?
Bending, shear, axial tension and compression, bar spacing, tension-controlled section, minimum flexural steel, shear section dimensions, minimum shear reinforcement and maximum stirrup spacing, all to ACI 318-19.
Can I use any bar arrangement?
Yes. Besides the simple top and bottom layers, the custom canvas lets you place individual bars of any size anywhere in the section, and every check uses their actual positions.
Can I get drawings for CAD?
Yes. The Drawings tab produces a cross-section and elevation that you can download as a DXF file for AutoCAD and other CAD programs, or as a PDF.
Does it design T-beams or flanged sections?
Not yet. The app designs rectangular sections.
Is it free?
Yes. The app is free to use in your browser while TekStructa is in beta. There is nothing to install.
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For use by qualified engineers. All results must be checked independently before use in any design. See the Terms of Use.