Volex Labs / Calculations / Continuous beam analysis and design.

Continuous beam analysis and design.

Enter the spans and loading, and Volex Anvil solves the continuous beam — support moments, span moments, shear forces and reactions — by the stiffness method, then designs the critical sections in steel, RC or timber to the relevant Eurocode.

The analysis is checked against classical closed-form results (Timoshenko, 'Theory of Structures') for equal-span cases, so the moment distribution you get matches the textbook — with the full bending-moment and shear diagrams shown.

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What Volex Anvil checks

Validated against the published example

Two- and three-span continuous beams — support moments Timoshenko 'Theory of Structures' §10.3; standard UK textbook
QuantityPublishedVolex AnvilError
2-span middle support moment-90.0 kNm-90.0 kNm0.00%
3-span interior support moment-36.0 kNm-36.0 kNm0.00%
This case is one of 359 published checks the platform passes — the full table, with every source and every error, is public at volexlabs.com/verification.

Frequently asked

How many spans can it handle?
Any number of spans with equal or unequal lengths and independent loads on each span; the beam is solved by the stiffness method.
Does it do moment redistribution?
Yes — for RC continuous beams, moment redistribution to EC2 §5.5 can be applied within the code limits, with the redistributed diagram reported.
Is the analysis validated?
The support moments for equal-span cases are checked against Timoshenko's closed-form results — within 0.00%.
Is it free?
Yes — 10 calculations a month free with clause references; Pro (£29/month) adds unlimited runs and PDF calc sheets.

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