beamrigid

Beamrigid is a term used in structural engineering and computer-aided design to describe the rigidity or stiffness of a beam with respect to bending and deflection under applied loads. In this sense, beamrigid denotes how resistant a beam is to bending, a property governed primarily by the material’s elastic modulus and the cross-sectional geometry, as captured by the classical flexural rigidity EI. Beamrigid is not a standardized physical constant; its exact definition and usage vary across software packages and literature, where it is often treated as a dimensionless or scaled parameter that modulates the effective stiffness of a beam element in a model.

In practical modeling, beamrigid can be implemented as a scaling factor applied to the standard stiffness matrix of a beam element, or as a derived parameter from E, I, and L, depending on boundary conditions. Solutions for deflection and natural frequencies depend on beamrigid, along with boundary conditions and loading. Because EI itself captures bending stiffness, beamrigid is often interpreted as a convenience term in sensitivity analyses or parametric studies.

Relation to related concepts: Beamrigid relates closely to flexural rigidity, bending stiffness, and Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. It differs from mass or inertia terms that dominate dynamic response, and it contrasts with axial stiffness EA, which governs elongation rather than bending.

History and usage: The term appears in some engineering texts, software documentation, and collaborative projects as informal shorthand for beam bending stiffness. It is not part of standard SI nomenclature and should be defined within a given context when encountered.