Free Bearing Load Calculator
Calculate the bearing pressure between two surfaces from applied force and contact area.
Bearing Pressure
20.00 MPa
Bearing Pressure vs Applied Force (F)
Bearing Pressure
Bearing pressure is the compressive contact stress between two surfaces, such as a beam sitting on a support plate.
Formula
sigma_b = F / A_bearing
where F is the applied force and A_bearing is the contact area. This must not exceed the allowable bearing stress of the weaker material. For steel on concrete, allowable bearing is typically 0.85 f'c (concrete strength) multiplied by area modification factors.
Example Calculation
An 80 kN beam reaction on a 100 mm x 40 mm bearing plate.
- 01Bearing area = 100 x 40 = 4000 mm^2
- 02F = 80 kN = 80,000 N
- 03sigma_b = 80,000 / 4,000 = 20 MPa
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More
Beam Stress Calculation Guide: From Theory to Practice
Learn how to calculate beam stress step by step. Covers bending stress, shear stress, the flexure formula, stress distributions, and practical design checks for structural beams.