Definition check: A simply supported beam is one which is supported on more than two supports. Is this statement true?

Introduction / Context:
Beam support conditions define statical determinacy and influence internal forces and deflections. Understanding the standard meaning of a simply supported beam avoids confusion with continuous beams and other boundary conditions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Classical definitions from structural analysis.
• Supports are idealized as pin (hinge) and roller providing reactions without moment restraint.

Concept / Approach:
A simply supported beam is supported at its ends by a pin and a roller (two supports) allowing rotation and, in the case of the roller, horizontal movement. A beam supported at more than two points is a continuous beam and is generally statically indeterminate to a higher degree.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbook free-body diagrams and determinacy counts confirm that simply supported beams have two reaction points yielding three static unknowns (two verticals and possibly one horizontal), solvable by equilibrium alone if needed.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• “True” contradicts the standard definition.
• “True only for continuous beams” mislabels a different category.
• Determinacy depends on constraints, not just number of supports; loading does not change the support definition.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “simply supported” with “continuous”; assuming any beam with no end fixity is simply supported regardless of additional intermediate supports (that makes it continuous, not simply supported).

Final Answer:
False