Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam supported only at one end, with load carried over the overhang. This is in contrast to a simply-supported beam, which is supported at both ends.
Cantilevers provide a clear space underneath the beam without any supporting columns or bracing.
Cantilevers became a popular structural form with the introduction of steel and reinforced concrete. They are used extensively in building construction, notably in:
- Cantilever bridges.
- Overhanging elements and projections.
- Balconies, such as at Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘Falling water’.
- Machinery and plant such as cranes.
- Overhanging roofs such as stadium roofs, and shelters.
- Shelving.
- Furniture.
Cantilever construction can be used in bridge building for crossing large spans. A simple cantilever span is constructed from two cantilever arms extending from opposite sides, and meeting in the middle. A common variation of this is the suspended span where the cantilever arms support a central truss bridge resting on the ends of the cantilever arms. A classic example of the cantilever bridge is the Forth Railway Bridge in Scotland which has three cantilevers with two connecting suspended spans.
Cantilever cranes (otherwise known as 'hammerhead crane') are hoisting cranes with a swing or fixed cantilever along which a hoisting trolley moves. They are often used in shipyards and during the construction of tall buildings.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Abutment.
- Adaptive structures.
- Arches.
- Barrel vault.
- Canopy.
- Concrete v steel.
- Conoid shell.
- Engineer.
- Folded plate construction.
- Flying buttress.
- Hyperbolic paraboloid.
- Moment.
- Pendentive dome.
- Point of contraflexure.
- Resonant column method.
- Shell roof.
- Structural engineer.
- Structural systems for offices.
- Substructure.
- Superstructure.
- Swing bridge.
- Types of beam.
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.