LOADS ON BUILDINGS
LOAD TYPES
The determination of the loads acting on a structure is a complex problem.
The nature of the loads varies essentially with the architectural design, the
materials, and the location of the structure. Loading conditions on the same
structure may change from time to time, or may change rapidly with time.
Loads are usually classified into two broad groups: dead loads and live loads.
Dead loads (DL) are essentially constant during the life of the structure and
normally consist of the weight of the structural elements. On the other hand,
live loads (LL) usually vary greatly. The weight of occupants, snow and
vehicles, and the forces induced by wind or earthquakes are examples of live
loads. The magnitudes of these loads are not known with great accuracy and
the design values must depend on the intended use of the structure.
In structural analysis three kinds of loads are generally used:
1. Concentrated loads that are single forces acting over a relatively small
area, for example vehicle wheel loads, column loads, or the force
exerted by a beam on another perpendicular beam.
2. Line loads that act along a line, for example the weight of a partition
resting on a floor, calculated in units of force per unit length.
3. Distributed (or surface) loads that act over a surface area. Most loads
are distributed or are treated as such, for example wind or soil pressure,
and the weight of floors and roofing materials.
Dead Loads (DL)
The structure first of all carries the dead load, which includes its own weight,
the weight of any permanent non-structural partitions, built-in cupboards, floor
surfacing materials and other finishes. It can be worked out precisely from the
known weights of the materials and the dimensions on the working drawings.
Although the dead load can be accurately determined, it is wise to make a
conservative estimate to allow for changes in occupancy; for example, the
next owner might wish to demolish some of the fixed partitions and erect
others elsewhere.
Live Loads (LL)
All the movable objects in a building such as people, desks, cupboards and
filing cabinets produce an imposed load on the structure. This loading may
come and go with the result that its intensity will vary considerably. At one
moment a room may be empty, yet at another packed with people. Imagine
the `extra' live load at a lively party!
Wind Load (WL)
Wind has become a very important load in recent years due to the extensive
use of lighter materials and more efficient building techniques. A building built
with heavy masonry, timber tiled roof may not be affected by the wind load,
but on the other hand the structural design of a modern light gauge steel
framed building is dominated by the wind load, which will affect its strength,
stability and serviceability. The wind acts both on the main structure and on
the individual cladding units. The structure has to be braced to resist the
horizontal load and anchored to the ground to prevent the whole building from
being blown away, if the dead weight of the building is not sufficient to hold it
down. The cladding has to be securely fixed to prevent the wind from ripping it
away from the structure.
