Structural Engineering 101

Foundations are the first thing to be built during construction. Therefore,

they must be the first thing to be designed, right? WRONG! This is a
common misconception. Surprising as it may be, buildings are built from
the ground-up, but are designed from the top-down.

Follow the Load Path

Engineered structures are composed of multiple types of members that
connect in order to move the loads from the top to the bottom of the
structure. Loads in any building have to travel from the roof and upper floors
down to the ground. This effect is simply termed "Load Path." Load paths
need to be continuous. Each consecutive member needs to support itself
and the previous members and loads that connect to it.

Gravity Loads
Gravity loads are the vertical forces that act on a structure. The weight of
the structure, human occupancy and snow are all types of loads that needs
to have a complete load path to the ground.

The simple structure in the above picture can be used to demonstrate how
gravity loads move from the top of a structure to the ground.

1. A floor slab is designed to support the imposed gravity load.

2. This load travels from the floor slab to the beams that support
it.
3. Upon reaching the beam, the load travels to the end of a
beam, which is connected to a girder.
4. This girder is supporting the accumulated loads from the floor
slab and beams and transmits the load to a connecting
column.
5. The load then travels down the column to the foundation and
is distributed to the ground.

Lateral Loads
Gravity loads are not the only type of load that is considered when
designing a structure. Lateral loads (wind and earthquake loads) must also
have a complete load path to transfer them to the ground. Unlike gravity
loads, which act in a downward direction, lateral loads can act in a
horizontal direction or even cause an uplift effect.

A shear wall is a compilation of smaller structural elements into one larger

element that is used to resist lateral loads. The shear wall in the above
picture shows how a lateral load moves from the top of the structure to the
ground.

1. The lateral load is distributed throughout the top of the wall.

2. This load travels through the shear wall and is output at the
base of the wall.
3. The connection between the base of the wall and the
foundation forces the load into the foundation and is eventually
transferred to the ground.
A complete and continuous load path is necessary to safely move the loads
from the top of a structure to the ground. If a correct path isnt designed to

move the load to the ground, then the loads will find other means of making
it to the ground; usually in an unfavorable way. Its not quite as simple as an
apple falling on Newtons head, but its essentially the basic law of gravity.