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# Design a Rectangular Concrete Beam to EN 1992-1-1:2004 (Eurocode 2)
> Design rectangular reinforced concrete beams to EN 1992-1-1:2004 (Eurocode 2). FEA with unlimited spans and loads; checks flexure, shear and deflection.
Beam reactions link to connected column and footing calculations automatically. Design rectangular concrete beams to Eurocode EN 1992-1-1:2004 with unlimited supports and loads, customizable reinforcement, and FEA-based analysis.
Easily design and analyze rectangular concrete beams to Eurocode EN 1992-1-1:2004 using the Calcs.com concrete beam calculator. With support for unlimited supports and loads, as well as the ability to customize steel reinforcement in the beam, the FEA based concrete beam calculator enables extremely fast and accurate concrete design and analysis.
## Method & scope
| Property | Detail |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Design standards | EN 1992-1-1:2004 (Eurocode 2) |
| Regions | Europe |
| What it checks | Structural model and load combinations, Flexural design at the ultimate limit state, Shear design at supports, Crack control at the serviceability limit state, Deflection control |
#### Calculation method
##### Structural model and load combinations
The beam is analyzed with a finite element (FEA) model that accepts unlimited supports and loads, so simple, continuous, and cantilevered spans are all handled in one calculation. Applied actions follow EN 1991, and the calculator assembles ULS and SLS load combinations to EN 1990:2002 from the permanent, variable, and wind load cases you enter. Unfactored load analysis is carried out alongside the combined analysis so that serviceability effects can be assessed against the correct combination. The cross-section is assumed uniform along the full member length, and detailing requirements are checked separately.
##### Flexural design at the ultimate limit state
Bending is checked separately in the positive-moment (sagging) regions at midspans and the negative-moment (hogging) regions at supports, because reinforcement and effective depth differ between the two. You specify the number, size, and layer of the bottom and top bars, and the calculator computes the design moment resistance from the concrete compression block and the tension steel, using the design concrete compressive strength (governed by the partial factor for concrete and the long-term coefficient) and the design yield strength of the reinforcement. Each region reports **utilization = design moment / design moment resistance ≤ 1.0**. Moment redistribution ratio factors can be applied per region to redistribute support and span moments within the limits permitted by Eurocode 2.
##### Shear design at supports
Shear is verified at the supports to EN 1992-1-1:2004 Cl 6.2 using the variable strut inclination method. You define the transverse reinforcement by stirrup size, longitudinal spacing, number of legs per bundle, and stirrup angle, and set the cotangent of the compression strut inclination. The calculator determines the design shear resistance from the shear reinforcement and the compression strut capacity, applies the strength reduction factor for concrete cracked in shear, and enforces the minimum shear reinforcement ratio. The governing check is **design shear force / design shear resistance ≤ 1.0**.
##### Crack control at the serviceability limit state
Crack control follows EN 1992-1-1:2004 Cl 7.3.2 and Cl 7.3.4. The calculator evaluates the calculated crack width against the maximum allowable crack width you specify, using the coefficient for bond properties, coefficients for crack spacing, and the time after which cracking is first expected. This confirms that the reinforcement arrangement controls cracking under service loads.
##### Deflection control
Deflection is assessed by direct calculation to EN 1992-1-1:2004 Cl 7.4.3 rather than by span-to-depth ratios. The calculator reports characteristic (irreversible), frequent (reversible), and quasi-permanent (long-term) deflections, each compared against its own limit, including an absolute deflection criterion where specified. Accounting for cracked or uncracked section behavior, this gives three independent serviceability deflection checks so short-term and long-term response are both captured.
## How to use it
Open it from **Run calc** in the About this calculator panel above.
Work through the input sections from top to bottom. Click any input label to see its reference explanation, clause, conditions and assumptions. See [Checks, References, Conditions and Assumptions](/docs/running-calculations/checking-results/checks-references-conditions-assumptions).
Check the utilization of each governing check in the summary, then export a PDF report. See [Views and Export](/docs/running-calculations/exporting-reports/views-and-export).
## Common questions
The calculator designs and analyses rectangular reinforced concrete beams to EN 1992-1-1:2004 (Eurocode 2). Load combinations follow EN 1990:2002 and actions follow EN 1991. Partial factors for concrete and reinforcing steel can be adjusted per the relevant National Annex, along with coefficients for long-term and unfavourable effects on compressive and tensile strength.
Key inputs include the overall depth and width of the cross-section, total member length, support positions, nominal concrete cover, concrete strength class, and loads by type (permanent, variable, wind). You then specify the longitudinal reinforcement at midspans and supports (number, size, and layer of bars) and the transverse shear reinforcement (stirrup size, spacing, number of legs, and angle).
The calculator runs ULS flexural checks at positive-moment (sagging) midspan regions and negative-moment (hogging) support regions, a ULS shear check at supports (EN 1992-1-1:2004 Cl 6.2), SLS crack control and crack width checks (Cl 7.3.2 and Cl 7.3.4), and SLS deflection control by calculation (Cl 7.4.3) against characteristic, frequent, and quasi-permanent limits. Results are shown as traffic-light pass or fail with utilization ratios.
Yes. The beam is analyzed with a finite element (FEA) model that supports unlimited supports and loads, so multi-span continuous beams and cantilevers are handled directly. Reinforcement can be specified separately at midspans and at supports to match the positive and negative moment envelopes, and moment redistribution ratios can be set per region.
Transverse shear reinforcement is defined by the stirrup bar size, longitudinal spacing, number of legs per bundle, and the angle of the stirrups. The calculator uses the variable strut inclination method, so you can set the cotangent of the compression strut angle. It reports the design shear resistance against the design shear force and enforces the minimum shear reinforcement ratio.
Yes. Beam support reactions can be linked directly into connected column and footing calculations in the same project. When a load or span changes on the beam, the linked column and footing calculations update automatically, so the full beam-to-column-to-footing load path stays consistent with no manual re-entry of reactions.
## Next steps
Complete list of Calcs.com design calculators available for European projects (Eurocodes EN 1992, EN 1993, EN 1995, and related standards).
Design rectangular reinforced concrete columns to Eurocode 2 (EN 1992-1-1). Checks axial resistance, biaxial bending, second-order effects, and crack control.
Design steel beams to EN 1993-1-1:2005 (Eurocode 3) with unlimited spans and loads. Checks bending, LTB, shear, web buckling and deflection.
Design simple and continuous timber beams to EN 1995-1-1:2004+A1:2008 (Eurocode 5) with unlimited supports and loads.
Calculate site wind pressure to Eurocode 1 (EN 1991-1-4:2005).
