Overhanging beam, uniform load
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About this case
How to analyze an overhanging beam with uniform load
This page pre-loads a symmetric overhanging beam: supports at distance a from each end, uniform load w over the full length L. Edit a, L, w, section or material directly. Results update instantly.
Reactions are symmetric: R = wL/2 at each support. The moment at the supports is M = −w·a²/2 (hogging). The maximum positive moment in the span depends on a/L; for small overhangs it's near midspan, for large overhangs it moves toward the supports.
What to watch for with overhanging beams
The support moment is the design driver for small overhangs (it's the connection/embedment moment). For large overhangs, the span moment can exceed the support moment. The calculator reports both so you can check both locations.
Asymmetric overhangs (different a on each side) produce asymmetric reactions and moments — the full calculator handles this: add supports at arbitrary positions and a full-span UDL.
Related calculators
For a non-symmetric overhang or multiple loads, use the full overhanging beam calculator (the variant landing). The continuous two-span case is the natural extension when the overhang is supported at its tip, making it a three-span continuous beam.