Load Path
Load Path
• Structural Design
• Design Loads
– Snow Load
– Lateral Loads(wind)
• Load Path
Steps in Structural Design
1. Planning – How will the building be supported?
2. Establishing the loads
3. Designing preliminary structural configuration
and layout
4. Analyzing structural members
5. Selecting preliminary structural members
6. Evaluating the preliminary design
7. Redesigning (if needed) – Repeat the above
steps as necessary to achieve a safe and
efficient design
8. Designing and detailing the structural
components
Design Loads
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Design Loads
Design Snow Load Calculation
p s 0.7C s Ce Ct I s p g
ps Design snow load
Cs Roof slope factor
Ce Exposure factor
Ct Thermal factor
I s Importancefactor
p g Ground snow load
Design Snow Load
• Find the ground
snow load
• For Springfield, CO
(red dot) the snow
load is 15 psf
Ground Snow Load in psf
• If , then
Design Loads
Lateral Loads
– Wind Loads
– Earthquake Loads
– Flood Loads
– Earth Pressure
Loads
Design Loads
APPLIED
LOAD
Structural Elements
• Within the structural systems, individual
structural elements must work together to
carry and transfer the applied loads to the
ground.
• Examples of structural elements include:
o Roof Decking o Beams
o Elevated Slabs o Girders
o Load Bearing Walls o Columns
o Connections o Footing
“Load Chasing” for Structural Design