F4 Structural Design I

Types of Loads p. 1 / 2

We differentiate between three different types of loads: point load (e.g. columns), line load (e.g. walls) and area load (e.g. snow).

To know what kind of force is given, we use different indications: point loads in capital letters, line loads in lower case and area
loads in coated lower case.

area load s _s
Flächenlast lineLinienlast
load s s point load FF
Punktlast

st
La

t
unit: [kN/m ] 2] unit:Einheit:
[kN/m2][kN/m] unit: [kN/m ]

as
2 2
Einheit: [kN/m Einheit: [kN]

he
t

eL
s
La

rlic

in
ige

de

me
r än
nd

ge
stä
_ _ _

ve

all
_ Flächenlast g q s
s F
s Linienlast g q s
Punktlast G Q F

Conversion of Different Types of Loads

area load s _ line load s s point load F

Flächenlast s Linienlast Punktlast F
unit: [kN/m 2
] 2
Einheit: [kN/m ] unit: [kN/m
Einheit:
2
]
[kN/m] unit: [kN/m 2
]
Einheit: [kN]

_ F
s
s

_
s = s *b F = s *l
[kN/m] = [kN/m ] * [m]
2
[kN] = [kN/m] * [m]
_
To convert
Um aus area
einer s to line load_ss
loadFlächenlast F = s*b *l To
Umconvert line load
aus einer s to point
Linienlast s load F
2
which has the length of 1, we need [kN] = [kN/m ] * [m] * [m] we need to
eine Linienlast s entlang der eine Punktlast F zu erhalten,
to multiply s with width b multiply s with length 1.
Länge ll zu_erhalten, multipliziert To
Umconvert load s to point_s load F,
area Flächenlast
aus einer multipliziert man s mit der
man s mit der Breite b. we need
eine to multiply
Punktlast s with
F _zu the width b
erhalten, Länge l.
and length 1.
multipliziert man s mit der Breite b
und der Länge ll.
F4 Structural Design I
Types of Loads p. 2 / 2

Safety Factors

The loads are divided into self weight (dead / constant load) and live load (changing load). The self-weight (roof structure) can be
accurately defined, the live load (snow, wind etc.) are complicated to determine. This is the reason for different safety factors to
be used:

Safety Factor Dead Load γG = 1.35

Safety Factor Live Load γQ = 1.50

We differentiate between characteristic force value (index K), which has not been multiplied with safety factor and design force
value (index d), which is calculated taking safety factors into account:

Point Load Line Load Area Load

Dead Load Gd = Gk γG gd = gk γG gd = gk γG

Live Load Qd = Qk γQ qd = qk γQ qd = qk γQ