Long-span transition beam
View Patent ↗An elongate, long-span transition beam employable between columns in a building frame structure. This transition beam includes (a) an elongate central portion having one, principal cross-sectional vertical depth, and (b) joined to the opposite ends of the central portion, a pair of elongate end portions each having a smaller cross-sectional vertical depth. These end portions may be formed with flange-modified reduced beam sections to act as “overload fuses”. The central and end portions join through size-differentiated, transverse cross section, transitional regions which are formed adjacent opposite ends, and as parts, of the central portion.
1. An elongate, long-span transmission beam employable between columns in a building frame structure comprising
an elongate central portion having a uniform first depth occupying the majority of the overall length of the beam, and having a common cross-section along its length,
a pair of elongate end portions each having a uniform second depth which is less than said first depth, and each also having a common cross-section along its length,
a pair of elongate depth transitional regions each integrally interposed an end of said central portion and an end of an end portion, possessing a graded depth which transitions in size from said first depth where the transitional region is integral with an end of said central portion to said second depth where the transitional region is integral with an end of an end portion,
said central portion, end portions and transitional regions each being characterized by material continuity along lines extending within them which are transverse to the lengths of the portions and regions, and
intermediate the opposite ends of each uniform-depth end portion, a laterally reduced beam-section region.
2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein said central and end portions each has an I-beam configuration.