ABSTRACT
Section-resistant structures, like beams and slabs, are so commonly used in our built environments that we might assume that they are inherently efficient. But pervasiveness isn’t a reflection of optimal efficiency. Because their sectional shape determines their structural action, we can “hack” beams by manipulating their sectional shapes to make them more responsive and efficient. These hacks aren’t a cheat, just clever logical enhancements of bending theory and beam behavior.
