Design Of A Structural Post And Lintel, Or Trabeated, System

While deceptively simple in appearance post and lintel structures, or the trabeated system, is a complex design undertaking. Consisting of a load bearing lintel, or horizontal beam, supported on each end by structural posts or support columns, the allowable deformation and limits for compressive, shear, tensile, and buckling stresses must be taken into account. Commonly seen as a load bearing header over windows and doors, the post and lintel system has many other applications but can only span limited distances due mainly to strength limitations in the materials used for the lintel. Structural engineers should be consulted for any load bearing post and lintel design.