I can actually start my first MechaDevs News post by saying – WE DID IT!
Yes, three years after a conversation (on a small balcony) between a computational mechanic and a programmer about an interesting idea for an app, after many late nights spent on coding and developing analytical algorithms, the first official version of EquiBeam is finally here—a beam and cross-section calculation app. But this isn’t just any app that uses popular numerical methods in this field (which you could code in one good evening for fun) and simply displays results and maybe some nice visuals—you’ll find plenty of those out there…
Instead, it’s an app designed for learning beam calculations, one specifically for students who need a tool for practice and exam prep.
Some might say that EquiBeam is just a beam calculator since you can calculate any setup within it. But we developed EquiBeam to present the complete solution process—exactly the way it’s done in class.
This way, students can learn how to:
- write the equilibrium equations for any beam,
- calculate support reactions based on them,
- write internal force equations,
- calculate internal forces from these equations,
- draw internal force diagrams (both from equations and manually),
- write displacement equations,
- solve statically determinate and indeterminate problems,
- and perform calculations using methods essential for passing exams.
A few years ago, when I presented this idea to my students, I never heard a single negative response. Now that EquiBeam is real, I often hear it’s the tool they’ve been missing.
I believe that EquiBeam will make mechanics and material strength easier and I already have proof—many students who used test versions of the app were able to score top marks on their quizzes thanks to the practice in solving beam and cross-section calculations ????.
Wishing you all the best and happy using the app! And remember, we’re here for any questions you might have!
