Loads

Area Load – A uniform load that acts across the entire area or surface of a structural member
Center of Mass – A point on an oject or system of objects in motion that moves in the same path that a particle would if subjected to the same net force
Concentrated Load – Loading that is applied on a particular portion of a structural member
Dead Load – Loads that consist of the weight of permanent and fixed components of a structure
Deflection - The deviation of a structural member from its original position due to applied loading
Gravity Load – Loading that is the result of the earth’s gravitational pull
Lateral Load – Loading that occurs in the horizontal direction with respect to the ground
Live Load – non-permanent and movable loads on a structure
Occupancy Load – Live, gravity loads that consist of the weight of people, furniture, equipment, and stored materials.
Overturning – A structural failure that is normally associated with tall and slender buildings with relatively small foundations
Seismic Load – Earthquake forces that result from the slippage of rock plates along the fault line
Sliding – Structural failure caused from the effect of lateral forces on inadequately designed foundation systems
Snow Load – A gravity live load caused from the accumulation of snow on a horizontal surface
Torsion – A twisting effect induced by the action of lateral forces
Uniformly Distributed Load – Loading that occurs along a portion or the length of a structural member
Uniformly Increasing Load – A load that is increased at a constant rate
Wind Load – A lateral load caused from wind force