Lateral loads
Lateral loads are live loads that are applied parallel to the ground; that is, they are horizontal forces acting on a structure. They are different to gravity loads for example which are vertical, downward forces.
The most common types are:
Wind load may not be a significant concern for small, massive, low-level buildings, but becomes more importance with height, the use of lighter materials and the use of shapes that may affect the flow of air, typically roof forms.
Significant seismic loads can be imposed on a structure during an earthquake. They are likely to be relatively instantaneous loads compared to wind loads. Buildings in areas of seismic activity need to be carefully designed to ensure they do not fail if an earthquake should occur.
Water pressure tends to exert a lateral load which increases linearly with depth and is proportional to the liquid density. Similarly, earth pressure (such as settlement) can be applied against below-ground structures such as basement walls, retaining walls, and so on.
Lateral loads such as wind load, water and earth pressure have the potential to become an uplift force (an upward pressure applied to a structure that has the potential to raise it relative to its surroundings). For more information, see Uplift force.
Structures should be designed carefully with likely lateral loads in mind. A structural element that is typically used to resist lateral loads is a shear wall. In simple terms, lateral forces could push over parallel structural panels of a building were it not for perpendicular shear walls keeping them upright. For more information see: Shear wall.
Similarly, bracing can be used to resist lateral loads. The beams and columns of a braced frame structure carry vertical loads, whilst the bracing carries the lateral loads. For more information, see Braced frame structure.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bearing capacity.
- Bending moment.
- Biaxial bending.
- Braced frame.
- Dead loads.
- Floor loading.
- Force.
- Ground heave.
- Hurricane design considerations.
- Limit state design.
- Live loads.
- Loadbearing capacity.
- Moment.
- Point of contraflexure.
- Settlement of buildings.
- Shear force.
- Shear wall.
- Structural engineer.
- The design of temporary structures and wind adjacent to tall buildings.
- Torsion.
- Types of structural load.
- Uniformly Distributed Load.
- Uplift force.
- Vibrations.
- Wind load.
Featured articles and news
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
For the World Autism Awareness Month of April.
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
The ECA Industry Awards 2024 now open !
Recognising the best in the electrotechnical industry.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding..