Canadian Beam Capacity Calculator — CSA S16-19

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Design per CSA S16-19 Clause 13 and 14

Calculate the flexural and shear capacity of Canadian steel W-shapes per CSA S16-19. The calculator supports W, S, and C shapes in 300W, 350W, and 380W steel grades.

Supported Sections and Grades

• W-shapes — W100× to W1100× series (Canadian metric sections)
• S-shapes — S75× to S310× series
• C-shapes — C75× to C380× series
• Steel grades — 300W (300 MPa yield, most common), 350W, 380W

Design Checks Performed

• Class determination — Class 1, 2, 3, or 4 per CSA S16-19 Clause 11 (flange and web slenderness limits)
• Flexural resistance — Mr = φ × Z × Fy per Clause 13.5 for Class 1 and 2 sections
• Lateral-torsional buckling — Mr = φ × Mu per Clause 13.6 with ω2 moment gradient factor
• Shear resistance — Vr = φ × Aw × Fs per Clause 13.4 where Fs = 0.66Fy
• Shear buckling — Clause 13.4.1.1 web stiffener requirements for slender webs

Worked Example

Problem: Check a W410×60 beam in 350W steel for a 7.0 m simply supported span with a factored UDL of 35 kN/m.

Solution:

• Section: W410×60 (W-shape metric), 350W (Fy = 350 MPa)
• Class 1 (compact flange and web)
• Plastic modulus Zx = 1200 × 10³ mm³
• Design moment: Mf = 35 × 7.0² / 8 = 214 kNm
• Moment resistance: Mr = 0.9 × 1200 × 10³ × 350 = 378 kNm
• Utilisation: 214/378 = 0.57 (57%) — OK
• Shear: Vf = 35 × 7.0 / 2 = 123 kN
• Shear resistance: Vr = 0.9 × 4520 × 0.66 × 350 = 939 kN
• Utilisation: 123/939 = 0.13 (13%) — OK

Result: W410×60 in 350W is adequate. Moment governs at 57% utilisation.

Related Resources

• Canadian Beam Design Guide
• Canadian Steel Grades Fy/Fu
• Canadian Column Design Guide
• Lateral-Torsional Buckling Guide

FAQ

What is the resistance factor φ for beams in CSA S16? The φ factor for steel beams is 0.9 per CSA S16-19 Clause 13. This applies to both flexure and shear.

How does the calculator handle lateral-torsional buckling? LTB is checked per Clause 13.6 using the unbraced length Lb, the moment gradient factor ω2, and the section classification. The elastic buckling moment Mu is computed and compared to the plastic moment Mp.

What steel grades are supported? 300W (Fy = 300 MPa), 350W (Fy = 350 MPa), and 380W (Fy = 380 MPa) per CSA G40.20-13/G40.21-13.

Can I use imperial W-shapes? The calculator uses metric W-shape designations (e.g., W410×60) common in Canadian practice. For US imperial W-shapes, use the AISC code selection instead.