>>> You have a beam that is ( theoretically )  x long, y wide and z
>>> thick.  Weight is applied perpendicular to the xz plane. Beam is
>>> supported at both ends of the length.
>>> What happens if you compare it to a beam of the same material
>>> x long, 2y wide and z thick ?

>From your initial description, I believed you meant X was in the
horizontal plane, Y was in the horizontal plane, and Z was in the
vertical plane.  My answer was based on those assumptions.

> It appears that doubling the width ( depth ) of the beam causes
> the deflection to be reduced about 8-fold.

>From this message, it now appears that your Y dimension is the 
vertical plane (and X and Z are horizontal).  If so, then yes,
doubling the vertical thickness is about 8 times stronger.

						Lee Jones

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