load path of building - Printable Version

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load path of building - Amit Mathur - 04-24-2014

The structural elements of a building that comprise the 'skeleton' supporting the rest of the building, includes the foundation, load-bearing walls, beams, columns, floor system and roof system, as well as the connections between these elements.

To carry its own weight ("dead load"), live loads, and wind and earthquake forces the building elements and connections are subjected to tension, compression, shear, bending, and torsion.

Buildings are primarily designed to resist vertical forces from gravity. The roof and floor systems carry these vertical forces to the supporting beams. The beams carry the forces to the columns and bearing walls, which then carry the forces down to the foundation and the supporting soil.

This process of carrying forces from the roof down to the soil is known as a load path. The failure of any building element or connection along the load path can lead to building damage or collapse.


The load path is simply the direction in which each consecutive load will pass through connected members.

• The sequence commences at the highest point of the structure working all the way down to the footing system, ultimately transferring the total load of the structure to the foundation
  
  
• Ultimately, the lowest structural member must be strong enough to support all members above it.
  
  
• This is why engineers often design the uppermost members first and progressively work their way down the structure following the load path.
  
  

Load Path in a Domestic Structure

• The direction that loads are transferred through
  a structure is important and must be identified.
  
  
• A simple domestic structure works on similar
  principles as a large concrete structure although
  the components are different:
  
  1. the foundation supports the footings
     
  2. the footings support the flooring structure which consist of bearers, joists and flooring
     
  3. the stud walls and bracing transfer their load to the flooring
     
  4. the roof trusses support the battens which support
     the roof cladding and this load is transferred to the walls.
     
     
  
  
  

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