What Is Spandrel Beam? | Advantages and Disadvantages of Spandrel Beam |Functions of Spandrel Beam
What Is Spandrel Beam? | Advantages and Disadvantages of Spandrel Beam | Application of Spandrel Beams
What Is Spandrel Beam?
Spandrel beams are beams that are built along the outer wall of each floor level of a building. It is a horizontal steel or concrete structure built around the perimeter of a building to support the wall loads or some roof loads that come over it. Edge beams are another name for spandrel beams.
These are used when the wall that was built cannot support the weight of the slab or the floor.
When compared to rectangular floor beams, flanged floor beams such as T- Beams and L- Beams are more resistant to torsional loads.
As a result, spandrel beams or edge beams are built as flanged floor beams, increasing the ultimate load capacity of the high-rise building.
Spandrel Beam Functions
The spandrel beams are responsible for transferring the external wall and slab loads to the exterior columns.
Because of direct contact with the floor beams, these beams are subjected to axial compression, torsion, bending moment, and shear stresses.
Torsion transfers the slab weight to the beam and ultimately to the columns. The load distribution of a spandrel beam system is a complicated operation.
Edge beams are another name for spandrel beams. These are given in circumstances where the wall being constructed cannot support the weight of the slab or floor.
Spandrel beams have been used on each floor in multi-story structures.
They are fastened to the outer edge of the floor slab as a belt to support the floor beam.
Furthermore, it improves the connectivity between the slab and the exterior columns.
The parapets are installed above such roof beams.
The spandrel beam is designed to transfer the load of the outside wall as well as the load of the slab from the slab to the outer column, and then across the column to the foundation.
Spandrel beams can be made out of stone, brick, concrete or steel. When used on bridges, they allow for extra clearance for traffic below while also providing support to the bridge deck and preventing sagging at either end
Advantages of Spandrel Beam
- Spandrel beams are widely used in multi-story buildings.
- They fasten the exterior column to the exterior wall of the building.
- They provide proper roof support for the floor beams, thus preventing the shortening of floor beams.
- Spandrel beams protect exterior side openings like windows, shear walls, and lintels.
- To improve stiffness and ductility against earthquake activity, a spandrel beam is utilized in conjunction with coupled shear walls.
- Spandrel beams increase the lateral stability of steel and concrete structures.
Spandrel Beam Disadvantages
- Because spandrel beams are installed on the outside of a house, they are more likely to be in contact with moisture than floor beams, resulting in wetness. Steel reinforcement deterioration or corrosion and spalling and fracturing of concrete can occur.
- A significant amount of money is also spent on reconstruction.
Spandrel Beam FAQS.
Q: What is the function of a spandrel beam?
A: A spandrel beam transfers the load from the external and internal walls to the exterior members. A support for roof loads is also provided by it.
Q: What are the varieties of spandrel beams used?
A: There are two main kinds of spandrel beam used in buildings and they are – edge beams and side beams.
Q: Which is more efficient? Edge beam or beam or Spandrel Beam?
A: A spandrel beam transfers the load from the external and internal walls to the exterior members.
A support for roof loads is also provided by it. The load of a spandrel beam is transferred to the columns and then across the columns to the foundation.
It also transfers much of the load from one floor level to another. Thus, there is a reduction in total weight of building which makes it much more efficient than an edge beam.
Q: What are the applications of Spandrel beams?
A: Spandrel beams are used in multi-storied buildings. They are used in basements, ground floors, and upper floors of a building.
Q: Is there any other name for spandrel beams?
A: Yes, the spandrel beam is also known as an edge beam. These beams are given in circumstances where the wall being constructed cannot support the weight of the slab or floor.
Q: How many styles of edge beams are there?
A: There are two main types of spandrel beams that are used in buildings. The Spandrel beam has an edge beam and a metallic side beam.
Q: What is the difference between a spandrel beam and a girder beam?
A: A girder beam is a beam that is used for bearing the vertical load of girders but not for carrying any other type of load.
A girder beam has a large web that acts as a supporting surface on which the vertical load is carried by the supporting struts. Spandrel beams are considered to be more efficient than edge beams. Spandrel beams are used to support the floor as well as the wall loads.
Q: What is the application of spandrel beams?
A: Spandrel beams are used to transfer the load of a horizontal wall to the vertical members.
Q: What type of loads does spandrel beam carry?
A: Loads from external walls, slabs and roofing are carried by it. They are transferred across spandrel beam from one level to another.
The weighty slab and wall loads are supported by it across the column.
Q: Where do we uses spandrel beam?
A: Spandrel beams are used in multi-storied buildings. They are used in basements, ground floors, and upper floors of a building.
Q: What is the function of spandrel beams?
A: Spandrel beams transfer the load from an external wall to the columns.
