Beams are the horizontal or inclined bearing elements of the structural system that connect columns and support slabs. When beams support slabs, they function together with the slab thus forming a “T” section beam. Depending on the relative levels of the slabs compared to the levels of the beams T beams are called common beams, inverted beams or “Z” beams.
Generally, beams are supported by columns (beam to column connection). However, sometimes one or both beam ends are supported by another beam (beam to beam connection) and other times only one end is supported by a column or beam while the other end has no support at all. The beam supported only in one end is called a cantilever. The beam to column connection is called direct support and the beam to beam connection is called indirect support.
The most commonly used beam is the one supported by two columns and the most scarcely used is the cantilever beam. Indirect supports should be rarely used and only when there really is no alternative solution.
