Design of structural elements

This chapter is concerned with general methods of
 sizing beams and columns in structures. The chapter
 describes how the characteristic and design loads acting
 on structures and on the individual elements are deter
mined. Methods of calculating the bending moments,
 shear forces and deflections in beams are outlined.
 Finally, the chapter describes general approaches to
 sizing beams according to elastic and plastic criteria
 and sizing columns subject to axial loading.