> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.enercalc.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.enercalc.com/sel-faq/using-the-software/calculation-modules/beams2/steel-beam/design-of-a-steel-beam-with-ve.md). # Design of a steel beam with vertical gravity loads and lateral wind loads How to design a steel beam carrying vertical gravity loads and lateral wind loads in SEL. ## How can I design a steel beam with vertical gravity loads and lateral wind loads using SEL? The question can be interpreted a couple different ways, so we will do that just to be thorough 1. “I’m designing a space frame without cladding or diaphragms, and I’d like to know how I can design a steel beam that is subject to a combination of gravity loads acting in the vertical direction and concurrent wind loads acting perpendicular to the plane of the web.” The Steel Beam module does not permit biaxial loading at the present time, so there are two potential approaches to this loading scheme: * One option is to do two separate Steel Beam runs. One run would apply the gravity loads to the beam with the beam oriented “web vertical”. The other run would apply the wind loads to the beam with the beam oriented “web horizontal”. This would require that the user manually combine the results of the two runs using engineering judgment to come up with a final result. * The other option would be to use the Steel Column module, which does permit biaxial bending. 2. “I’m designing a moment frame and I’d like to know how I can design a steel beam that is subject to a combination of gravity loads acting in the vertical direction and concurrent wind loads acting parallel to the plane of the frame.” This would involve analyzing the frame to determine the resulting shears and moments on the frame. Then, if the axial loads in the beam are negligible, one could model the beam in the Steel Beam module by applying all of the loads including concentrated wind moments and shears. If the axial load was not negligible, one might consider modeling the beam in the Steel Column module in order to incorporate the axial load effects in addition to flexure and shear. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.enercalc.com/sel-faq/using-the-software/calculation-modules/beams2/steel-beam/design-of-a-steel-beam-with-ve.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.