Loading conditions - Rectangle (detailed design)

The following parameters are entered separately for each design rectangle. When complete, click “Next Rectangle” (for cases with more than one design rectangle) and finally “Analysis Parameters” when all data entry is complete.

One must adhere to the following convention when entering data about a particular rectangle. Number sides in clockwise direction

Open

(Direction 1 & 3) – Length (self explanatory)

(Direction 2 & 4) – Breadth (self explanatory)

No. beams in direction 1

Number of beams that are parallel to direction 1. If direction 1 is the long direction (typical) then this is the number of long beams.

No beams in direction 2

Number of beams that are parallel to direction 2. If direction 2 is the short direction (typical) then this is the number of short beams.

The computer input only accepts rectangular components and hence the user must model architectural plan using as many overlapping rectangles as chosen by the engineer. The number of design rectangles to be analysed is to be inputed under ‘General’ before you select Standard Design, Detailed Design or Custom Design.

Open

When analysing strip footings, you will still be required to input a rectangle component with a chosen width to represent loadings supported by the soil.

Internal wall height and length

These two values are multiplied together, and multiplied by the internal wall load from the previous window to obtain a total weight for the internal walls for this design rectangle.

Wall load, wall height and eaves overhang

The external wall weight and height, and the eaves overhang for each individual side of the current design rectangle.

Trussed roof

In a “Trussed” roof, the load is converted to an edge load along the sides that have a tick in the “Load Bearing Wall” box.

Conventional roof

In a “Conventional” roof, the uniformly distributed load from the roof (in kPa) is added to the floor load evenly, as it is assumed to be transmitted to the floor approximately evenly via internal walls.

Load Bearing wall

If this box is ticked, then the wall will be considered to take an appropriate portion of the roof load (for Trussed roof only). Please note that if Side 1 is considered a load bearing wall, then side 3 must also be a load bearing wall, and if side 2 is a load bearing wall then side 4 must also be a load bearing wall. Please also note that it is possible for all four walls to be load bearing walls.