Eurocode 3 Steel Beam Check (EN 1993-1-1)
Check a steel beam to EN 1993-1-1 in seconds. Choose a section, span, support and load, and FERS returns the governing utilization and the per-clause breakdown — bending, shear, combined N+M and lateral-torsional buckling — solved live by the same finite-element engine as the full app.
Runs in your browser — no install, no sign-up to start.
What the check verifies
The check evaluates each relevant EN 1993-1-1 verification and reports its utilization (UC = design effect ÷ resistance). The governing check is the highest UC, and the member passes when the governing UC ≤ 1.0. Every clause is shown so you can see exactly what governs and why.
| Clause | Verification | What it checks |
|---|---|---|
| §6.2.5 | Bending resistance | Cross-section bending resistance (elastic or plastic modulus × f_y ÷ γ_M0). Driven by the design moment M_Ed. |
| §6.2.6 | Shear resistance | Shear resistance from the shear area A_v. Driven by the design shear V_Ed. |
| §6.2.1 / §6.2.9 | Combined N+M | Cross-section interaction of axial force and bending. Relevant when the member also carries axial load. |
| §6.3.1 | Flexural buckling | Member buckling resistance over the buckling length. Driven by axial compression N_Ed. |
| §6.3.2 | Lateral-torsional buckling | Buckling of the compression flange between lateral restraints. Driven by M_Ed and the unrestrained length; skipped when the flange is continuously restrained. |
| §6.3.3 | Buckling interaction | Combined axial + bending member buckling via the interaction factors (Annex A / Annex B). |
The calculator above runs the FERS finite-element solver on your beam and returns each utilization live, so you see exactly which clause governs.
Worked example
Worked example: a 6 m simply supported IPE 300 in S235 under a 10 kN/m uniformly distributed load, compression flange unrestrained (γ_M0 = γ_M1 = 1.0, ULS load factor 1.35). The design moment is M_Ed = 1.35 × 10 × 6² / 8 = 60.75 kNm. These are the utilizations FERS returns for that beam:
- Bending §6.2.5
- 0.41
- Shear §6.2.6
- 0.10
- Lateral-torsional buckling §6.3.2
- 0.86 (governs)
- Governing utilization
- 0.86 — PASS
Frequently asked questions
Which standard does this use?
EN 1993-1-1 (Eurocode 3), the general rules for steel buildings. Partial factors γ_M0 and γ_M1 default to 1.0; your National Annex may specify different values. The check covers bending, shear, combined axial + bending, flexural buckling and lateral-torsional buckling.
What does 'compression flange restrained' mean?
If the compression flange is held laterally along its length — for example by a floor slab or steel decking — lateral-torsional buckling (§6.3.2) does not govern, so switch the restraint on to skip it. With it off, the full span is taken as the unrestrained length and LTB is checked over the whole beam.
Does it apply a load factor?
Yes. The load you enter is a characteristic load; a ULS load factor (default 1.35) multiplies it to give the design effects. Adjust it to match your load combination — for example 1.5 for a leading variable action.
Does it check deflection (SLS)?
No. This is a ULS resistance check only. For serviceability deflection, use the free beam calculators, which report the elastic deflection of the same beam.
Which sections can I check?
Named European rolled sections — IPE, HEA and HEB — which carry the elastic and plastic section moduli plus the warping constant that the lateral-torsional-buckling check needs. The full FERS app supports many more section types.
Is it free?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser with no installation and no sign-up to start. Create a free account to save models and download the calculation report with its full EN 1993-1-1 hand-calc trace; the full app adds load combinations, multi-member frames and 3D models.
More free calculators
Area, centroid, second moments of area, elastic and plastic moduli, torsion constant, warping constant and shear centre for any cross-section you build or draw.
Draw any 2D beam or frame and get support reactions, a free-body diagram and axial, shear and bending-moment diagrams.
Maximum bending moment, support reactions and deflection for a central point load or a uniformly distributed load.
Any mix of point loads, distributed loads and moments: reactions, shear, moment, deflection and slope, step by step, in SI or US units.
Support and midspan bending moments, reactions and deflection for a fixed-fixed (encastré) beam.
Fixed-end and span bending moments, both reactions and deflection for a fixed-pinned beam.
See FERS reproduce the standard NAFEMS finite-element benchmarks it can represent — beam free-vibration and plate/membrane statics — with live in-browser solving and target-vs-FERS error.
Describe a steel beam in plain English and get an EN 1993-1-1 check computed by the real FERS solver — a limited free demo (a few messages per day); connect your own LLM via MCP for unlimited use.
Check a whole frame, not just one beam
Open the full FERS Cloud app for multi-member frames and trusses, load combinations, and EC3 checks across every member of a 3D model.