1. What do you understand by load path in a structural system? Briefly discuss the components
of a load path and the load transfer mechanism in a typical multistoried building structure.
Solution
The load path refers to the direction in which the loads are transferred from one structural
member to the other and ultimately to the supporting soil.
In a mutistoried building, the occupants are human beings. Their weights (together with the
impact factor) and the goods and furnitures they use constitute the live load. These loads act
directly on the supporting slabs/ floor decks. The self weight of slabs/fllor decks together with
the floor finishes constitute the dead load. Thus, the initial starting point of loads (dead and live)
in a multistoried building is the slab/floor deck at roof and floor levels.
These loads are transferred to the supporting beams. These load transfers are uni-directional if
the slab acts as one-way and two perpendicular directions if the slab behaves as two-way.
The loads coming onto the beams (in addition, their self-weights and wall loads) are transferred
to the supporting columns.
The loads from the columns are transferred to the foundations and from the foundations to the
supporting soil medium.
LOAD PATH
Slab--- Beam ---- Column --- Foundation ---- Soil.
1. What do you understand by load path in a structural system Brief.pdf
1. 1. What do you understand by load path in a structural system? Briefly discuss the components
of a load path and the load transfer mechanism in a typical multistoried building structure.
Solution
The load path refers to the direction in which the loads are transferred from one structural
member to the other and ultimately to the supporting soil.
In a mutistoried building, the occupants are human beings. Their weights (together with the
impact factor) and the goods and furnitures they use constitute the live load. These loads act
directly on the supporting slabs/ floor decks. The self weight of slabs/fllor decks together with
the floor finishes constitute the dead load. Thus, the initial starting point of loads (dead and live)
in a multistoried building is the slab/floor deck at roof and floor levels.
These loads are transferred to the supporting beams. These load transfers are uni-directional if
the slab acts as one-way and two perpendicular directions if the slab behaves as two-way.
The loads coming onto the beams (in addition, their self-weights and wall loads) are transferred
to the supporting columns.
The loads from the columns are transferred to the foundations and from the foundations to the
supporting soil medium.
LOAD PATH
Slab--- Beam ---- Column --- Foundation ---- Soil
