CURVED BEAMS ...

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WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT CURVED BEAMS ...

1. We can make all kinds of curved shapes ... circular, `S’ shaped, whatever.

 Curved beams can have a constant radius, or changing radius ... and can be constant depth, or changing depth (tapered).

2. But! ... there is a minimum radius of curvature we need to deal with.

3. Minimum radius of curvature depends primarily on the lamination thickness.

4. Curved beams will have a `thrust’ (`push-out’) component to the Reactions.
5. Get an Engineer on board with curved beams – and maybe the Manufacturer.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here are some curved roof beams for the Anatek Labs over in Moscow.  (Only the ends are shown here.  They actually carry the roof via a ridge beam line over to the right (out of sight) that load the curved beams with concentrated loads at center span (as I recall).  I designed the beams as a consultant to Design West Architects (Pullman). 
 
To deal with the push-out we use steel rods that tie the ends together and thus get the push-out to `cancel-out'. 
 
In that regard then, the beam-cable system simply bears down vertically on the supporting columns.
 
As mentioned in class most of the columns are hidden within the wall spaces.
 
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