A beam allows you to secure a roof or structure.
The concept of beam descends from the Latin biga , a term that was used to refer to the carriage of a pair of horses. The beam, with a "v", allows you to identify the curved piece (which can be either iron or wood), present in old cars with the purpose of allowing the link between the front set and the rear set.
Today, the word is intended for the segment of iron or wood of great extension and thickness that serves to support the roofs of buildings or secure the structure . For example: “Be careful, that beam doesn't seem very firm,” “We're going to have to ask the authorities to install new beams to avoid problems with the museum's ceiling,” “The boss asked me to paint the beams green.” ” .
The beam in construction
According to construction experts, the beam is an element that works in flexion, whose resistance causes tensile and compression stresses. When beams are located on the outer perimeter of a floor, torsional stresses may also be noted.
There are various materials used when making the beams and among all of them wood has stood out since it has the advantage of having a great traction capacity. However, in addition to it, and focusing more on the present, we have to emphasize that the most common thing is that these structures are made with concrete, whether prestressed, post-tensioned or reinforced.
Engineering and architecture use various formulas to calculate the slopes and deformations of beams when subjected to different types of loads. These data are essential for the development of constructions.
Wood, iron and concrete are some of the most used materials for the manufacture of beams.
The term in bridges and presses
In the field of architecture we also have to highlight the existence of a construction called a beam bridge. Specifically, this can be defined as that bridge that is characterized because its different spans are supported by beams. This simplicity is what makes it one of the most used types of bridges, especially highlighting the fact that it is frequently used in the construction of pedestrian crossings on different highways.
Another use of the concept of beam is linked to the press formed by a piece of wood of considerable size and horizontal format, which is articulated at one end and is loaded with weights at the opposite vertex with the purpose of achieving compression of that through it. to be placed underneath when descending with the help of a guide.
Other uses of the beam concept
In addition to everything stated above, we have to make it clear that there are different expressions that are used making use of the aforementioned concept that we are addressing. Thus, in Mexico it is common to hear the adverbial phrase “echar la viga” which attempts to express that a person is reprimanding another for a specific reason.
Viga, likewise, is the portion of ground olive that is squeezed and compressed repeatedly in the mills to obtain oil .
We also cannot ignore that Viga is the name of a Madrid rock group that has been on stage for more than three decades. There are several setbacks and changes that this group has had to face, which has numerous albums on the market, among which “Electrokalambrera” , “Con un par… de Bricks” or “Construyendo Rock & Roll” stand out.