Gravity Loads on
Structures
Introduction
A structure must be designed and constructed so as to
safely resist the applied load. The applied load consists of
dead loads, live loads, and environmental loads. Dead
load includes the self-weight of the structure and
permanent fittings and equipment. Live load includes the
weight of the structure’s occupants and contents.
Environmental loads include the effects of snow, wind,
earthquake, rain, and flood. Additional loads may also be
imposed by the self-straining forces caused by temperature
changes, shrinkage, or settlement.
Introduction
The design of a structure must take into consideration the
different combinations of loads that may be applied to the
structure and also the variable nature of each load. To
allow for this, load factors are applied to the nominal loads
and several different combinations are checked. In each
combination one variable load is taken at its maximum
lifetime value and the other variable loads assume arbitrary
point-in-time values.
Load Transfer to Structures
DEAD LOAD
Dead Load
Section 204 Dead Load
204.1 General
Dead loads consist of the weight of all materials of
construction incorporated into the building including, but
not limited to, walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, stairways, built-in
partitions, finishes, cladding, and other similarly
incorporated architectural and structural items and fixed
service equipment, including the weight of cranes.
Dead Load
204.2 Weights of Materials and Construction
The actual weights of materials and constructions shall be used
in determining dead loads for the purpose of design, In the
absence of definite information, it shall be permitted to use the
minimum values in Tables 204-1 and 204-2.
204-3 Partition Load
Floor in the office buildings and other buildings where partition
locations are subject to change shall be designed to support, in
addition to all other loads, a uniformly distributed dead load
equal to 1.0 kPa.
Dead Load
204.2 Weights of Materials and Construction
The actual weights of materials and constructions shall be used
in determining dead loads for the purpose of design, In the
absence of definite information, it shall be permitted to use the
minimum values in Tables 204-1 and 204-2.
204-3 Partition Load
Floor in the office buildings and other buildings where partition
locations are subject to change shall be designed to support, in
addition to all other loads, a uniformly distributed dead load
equal to 1.0 kPa.
Tributary Area
In order to determine the dead load applied to a structural
member, use is made of the tributary area concept. As
shown in figure, the floor slab is supported on beams which,
in turn, are supported on either girders or columns. The
girders carry the dead load to columns that transfer the
total load to the foundations. It may be assumed that all
beams have the same section with a weight of wB kN/m
and all girders have the same section with a weight of wG
kN/m.
Slab Supports
Each slab panel is supported on its periphery by either a
beam or a girder. For the situation shown, the aspect ratio
of a panel exceeds two, and the slab resists moments in the
direction of the shorter span between beams essentially as
a one-way slab. Beams are supported at each end by
either a girder or a column. A further assumption is made
that beams are simply supported at each end. Then the
tributary area of a beam is defined as the area of the slab
that is directly supported by the beam.
Slab Supports
Each slab panel is supported on its periphery by either a
beam or a girder. For the situation shown, the aspect ratio
of a panel exceeds two, and the slab resists moments in the
direction of the shorter span between beams essentially as
a one-way slab. Beams are supported at each end by
either a girder or a column. A further assumption is made
that beams are simply supported at each end. Then the
tributary area of a beam is defined as the area of the slab
that is directly supported by the beam.
Dead Load Applied to Beams
RC Core and Column
Steel Deck
Beams
Girder
Dead Load Applied to Beams
For a typical interior beam , the tributary area is the shaded
area abcd, shown in figure, which extends over its full length
y and a distance of x/2 on either side. The tributary area is:
𝐴 𝑇 = 𝑥𝑦 a b
The tributary width
y
d c
𝐵𝑇 = 𝑥
x x x
Dead Load Applied to Beams
For a slab with a weight of q kN/m2 and the beam with a self-
weight of wB kN/m, the uniformly distributed load on the
beam is 𝑞𝐵𝑇 + 𝑤𝐵
𝑤𝐷 = 𝑞𝐵𝑇 + 𝑤𝐵
The total dead load
𝑊𝐷 = 𝑞𝐴 𝑇 + 𝑤𝐵 𝑦 The dead load reaction
𝑊𝐷 = 𝑞 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑤𝐵 𝑦 𝑉 = 𝑦 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑤𝐵 /2
𝑊𝐷 = 𝑦 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑤𝐵 𝑉 = 𝑊𝐷 /2
Dead Load Applied to Beams
For Edge beam, the corresponding loads are
𝑤𝐷 = 𝑞𝐵𝑇 + 𝑤𝐵
𝑥 y
𝑤𝐷 = 𝑞 + 𝑤𝐵
2
x x x
𝑊𝐷 = 𝑞𝐴 𝑇 + 𝑤𝐵 𝑦
𝑥
𝑊𝐷 = 𝑞 𝑦 + 𝑤𝐵 𝑦 𝑉 = 𝑦 𝑞 𝑥 Τ2 + 𝑤𝐵 /2
2
𝑞𝑥
𝑊𝐷 = 𝑦 + 𝑤𝐵 𝑦
2
Example 1.0
From the floor framing plan shown, x = 3 m. and y = 6m, the floor
consist of composite steel-concrete with 75mm concrete fill over
75 mm high-formed steel deck. Determine the dead load acting
on a typical interior beam.The distributed load on the floor as
follows;
Floor Tile (Including Tile Adhesive) = 0.60 kPa
Concrete Fill = 2.00 kPa
Steel Deck = 0.10 kPa
Acoustic Celling = 0.15 kPa
Mech’l, Elect’l, and Plumbing Services = 0.20 kPa
Total, q = 3.05 kPa
Solution: Floor Tile
25mm
Concrete Fill 75mm
The tributary area of beam Steel Deck 75mm
𝐴 𝑇 = 𝑥𝑦
𝐴𝑇 = 3 × 6 W 14 x 22
𝐴 𝑇 = 18 𝑠𝑞. 𝑚.
The uniformly distributed dead load
𝑤𝐷 = 𝑞𝐵𝑇 + 𝑤𝐵 𝑤𝐵 = 32.7 𝑘𝑔/𝑚
𝑤𝐷 = 3.05 × 3 + 0.32 𝑤𝐵 = 0.32 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
𝑤𝐷 = 9.47 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
Solution:
The total dead load
𝑊𝐷 = 𝑞𝐴 𝑇 + 𝑤𝐵 𝑦
𝑊𝐷 = 3.05 × 18 + 0.32 × 6
9.47 kN/m
𝑊𝐷 = 56.82 𝑘𝑁
The dead load reaction
𝑉 = 𝑊𝐷 /2
𝑉 = 56.82/2 28.41 kN 28.41 kN
𝑉 = 28.41 𝑘𝑁
Dead Load Applied to Girders
RC Core and Column
Steel Deck
Beams
Girder
Dead Load Applied to Girders
As shown in figure, the tributary area of
a typical interior girder is the shaded
area efgh. The girder supports its own
weight wG and also the end reactions e f
y
of the beams framing into each side of
the girder. Girders are supported at
each end by a column.
h y
g
x x x
Dead Load Applied to Girders
Since all beams are identical, the
concentrated loads acting on the
girder at third points of the span are;
e f
y
2𝑉𝐷 = 𝑦 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑤𝐵
The dead load reaction at end of the
girder;
h y
g
𝑉𝐺 = 𝑦 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑤𝐵 + 3x𝑤𝐺 /2
x x x
Dead Load Applied to Girders
2VD 2VD
x x x
VG VG
Dead Load Applied to Girders
The tributary area of the edge/end
girder, as shown,
𝑉𝐷 = 𝑦 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑤𝐵 /2
The dead load reaction at end of the
y
girder;
x x x
𝑉𝐺𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒 = 𝑦 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑤𝐵 /2 + 3x𝑤𝐺 /2
Dead Load Applied to Girders
VD VD
VG edge x x x VG edge
Example 2.0
From the floor framing plan shown, x = 3 m. and y = 6m, the floor
consist of composite steel-concrete with 75mm concrete fill over
75 mm high-formed steel deck. Determine the dead load acting
on a typical girder. The distributed load on the floor as follows;
Floor Tile (Including Tile Adhesive) = 0.60 kPa
Concrete Fill = 2.00 kPa
Steel Deck = 0.10 kPa
Acoustic Celling = 0.15 kPa
Mech’l, Elect’l, and Plumbing Services = 0.20 kPa
Total, q = 3.05 kPa
Solution
The total distributed load Floor Tile
obtained in Example 1.0; 25mm75mm Concrete Fill
𝑞 = 3.05 𝑘𝑃𝑎. 75mm Steel Deck
Since all beams are identical, W 14 x 22
the concentrated load acting
on the girder at third points of
the span are; W 18 x 40
2𝑉𝐷 = 2 × 28.41
𝑤𝐺 = 59.53 𝑘𝑔/𝑚
2𝑉𝐷 = 56.82 𝑘𝑁
𝑤𝐺 = 0.58 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
Solution 56.82 56.82
wG=0.58 kN/m
3.00 3.00 3.00
VG VG
The dead load acting at the end of the girder;
𝑉𝐺 = 𝑦 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑤𝐵 + 3x𝑤𝐺 /2
𝑉𝐺 = 56.82 + 3 3 0.58 /2
𝑉𝐺 = 61.43 𝑘𝑁
Dead Load Applied to Columns
RC Core and Column
Steel Deck
Beams
Girder
Dead Load Applied to Columns
A B
The tributary are for column is the
shaded area, framing into the 2
column are beams and girders and
the columns supports the end
reactions from these members.
The total dead load applied on the 3
column
𝑉𝐴3 = 𝑉23 + 𝑉34 + 𝑉𝐴𝐵
4
Example 3.0
A B
From the example 1.0 & 2.0,
determine the total column dead 2
load as shown;
The total column dead load as
discussed will be the end reaction of
the beams and girders support by the 3
column;
4
Solution:
A B
Thus;
2
𝑉𝐴3 = 𝑉23 + 𝑉34 + 𝑉𝐴𝐵
𝑉23 = 𝑉34 = 𝑉𝐵 = 28.41 𝑘𝑁
𝑉𝐴𝐵 = 𝑉𝐺 = 61.43 𝑘𝑁 3
𝑉𝐴3 = 28.41 + 28.41 + 61.43
𝑉𝐴3 = 118.25 𝑘𝑁
4
W 18 x 40 Girder W 14 x 22 Beam
Two Way Slabs
When the aspect ratio of a slab is not more than two, the
slab resists moments essentially as a two-way slab. The
tributary areas for the supporting beams are bounded by
45° lines drawn from the corners of the panels and by the
center lines of the panels parallel to the long sides. A plan
view of floor framing is shown in figure with beams spanning
east-west and girders spanning north-south. The beams are
spaced at x on centers and the girders at y on centers and
the aspect ratio is;
𝑦Τ𝑥 = 2
Two Way Slabs
For a typical interior beam spanning east-west, the tributary
area is the trapezoidal area shown shaded in figure. The
dead load acting on the beam is shown below, where q is
uniformly distributed weight of the floor and y is 2x.
qx
VB x/2 x x/2 VB
y
Two Way Slabs
qx
VB x/2 x x/2 VB
The dead load reaction at each end of the beam,
including its own weight wB, is
𝑉𝐵 = 0.75𝑞𝑥 2 + 𝑤𝐵 𝑥
Two Way Slabs
For a typical interior girder spanning north-south, the
tributary area is the double triangular area plus the area
shown shaded in figure. The dead load acting on the girder
is shown;
2VB
qx
VG x x VG
y
Two Way Slabs 2VB
qx
VG x x VG
The dead load reaction at each end of the girder,
including its own weight wG, is
𝑉𝐺 = 0.50𝑞𝑥 2 + 𝑉𝐵 + 𝑤𝐺 𝑥
Computation No.1
From the floor framing plan shown, the floor consist of
reinforced concrete slab. Determine the dead load acting
on a beams and girders. The distributed load on the floor as
follows;
Floor Finish and Topping = 0.70 kPa
Reinforced Concrete Slab = 3.00 kPa
Celling = 0.15 kPa
Mech’l, Elect’l, and Plumbing Services = 0.25 kPa
Miscellaneous Loading = 1.00 kPa
A B C D E
3.00 3.00 3.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
1
6.00
2
6.00
3
6.00
