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Beams can be supported by columns and by other beams that were created on the same level.
Beams Supported by Columns
Beams can only be supported by at the top of a column. They cannot frame into the middle of a column that extends for more than one floor.
Any number of beams can be supported by one column.
Beams Supported by Other Beams
If you wish to frame a beam into another beam or support one beam on top of another, it is important that you define a separate design group for each beam. You then must ensure that the supported beam has a higher Load Transfer Number than the supporting beam. The load transfer number field is located by clicking the Groups button.
For example, if beam B1 was framing into beam B2, and if B1's load transfer number was 1, beam B2's load transfer number would have to be 0.
Elevation of Supports
The elevation of a beam is determined by the elevation of the extreme two potential supporting beams or columns at the gridpoint where the beam or column is positioned are under the beam.
All other beams or columns between these two supports must be an elevation along the slope defined by the two extreme supports, or they will not be considered supports.
In the case of beams which support other beams, if the elevation of the support point is other than the floor elevation, it must be explicitly entered as a gridpoint elevation, and will not be determined automatically from the extreme supports of the supporting beam. However, if the gridpoint elevation entered is not along the slope determined by the extreme supports of the supporting beam, this point will not be considered a support.
A vertical tolerance of 25mm (~1inch) is allowed in the calculations of support elevations.