If you are only changing the width and you double it, then the load carrying
capacity is also doubled.  For the same load with double width then the
deflection is halved.  Think of it as two beams side by side.

It is more efficient to increase the thickness of the beam.  The allowable
load increases as the cube of the thickness.

Regards,

Gordon Williams

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "agscal -AGSCalabrese" <agscal@gmail.com>
To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." <piclist@mit.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:14 PM
Subject: [OT]: Question about Static beam formulas


>
>
> 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 ?
> ( Presume the weight of the beam itself is not an issue and the beams
> are stabilized from sway)
>
>
> For example:   If you have a beam made of 7/16 inch OSB that is 21
> feet long and 8 inches wide.
> How much stronger will a similar beam be if it is 16 inches wide ?
>
> TIA
>
> Michael Algernon
>
>
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