Before starting the design, we select the standard according to which we’d like to perform the calculations:
The most economical dimensions of a steel beam will be readily determined by the icon 
. The following dialogue appears:
By pressing the ‘Analyse‘ button, you give 1•2•Build the command to search the most optimal IPE – profile that ensures an adequate resistance with respect to the applied loads (including its own weight). Moreover, the profile satisfies the requirement deformation limit in the serviceability limit state of your choice. For this example a service limit state quasi permanent combinations was chosen. After several iterations represents 1•2•Build you a IPE240.
If you’d like a solution with a smaller height, then click again on the icon . In the dialogue that appears, open the list of available profile classes and select the HEB-class.
1•2•Build will propose you a HEB160.
The proposed solution fully complies with the requirements set by Eurocode 3 with respect to
- the resistance of the profiles used
- the stability of the bars subjected to pressure and / or bending (buckling and/or lateral torsional buckling stability)
The results for strength and stability are documented more in detail using the icons 
and 
. The following graphs show that both the resistance of the sections as the stability of the rods below the 100% of the permitted values
remain.
Double click one of the beams to see the details of the steel check.
Furthermore, you can request more results, in particular the deflections of the beam in the service limit state. Do this, select the icon 
for the load combination ‘GGT QP‘ in order to obtain the following results. Which shows us that the expected deflection in the proposed HEB160 profile are 4 mm:
