Sloped Beam Loads Drawing

Important Note – These are descriptions to changes implemented in version 10 and may not reflect current program behaviour

The program previously did not show the slope of a sloped beam while in Loads view, and drew the loads as if they were applied to a horizontal beam. Now, the drawing of loads faithfully reflects the direction and distribution of each load type on sloped members.

1. Slope

   To preserve space to depict the loads, in the screen drawing, the angle that the beam is sloped is limited to 5 degrees, that is, any beam that is sloped more than 5 degrees shall be limited to 5 degrees.

   In the printed output, the angle is limited to 30 degrees.

   The depiction of notches is also adjusted for the 5- and 30-degree limitations.

2. Beam Depth

   For both sloped and non-sloped beams, if the beam depth exceeds 1/12 of the beam depth, the program limits the depiction of the beam to 1/12 of the depth. This insures sufficient room is left for drawing of loads.

3. Load Depiction

   There are three categories of loads based on the direction of load relative to the beam, and the assumed distribution of force – projected or along the slope.

   1. Dead-type Loads

      The following load types are applied along the sloped member edge with arrows oriented vertically: Dead, Dead soil, Earthquake.

   2. Live-type Loads

      The following load types are applied along a horizontal projection of the member, with arrows oriented vertically: Live, Sustained Live, Snow

   3. Wind Loads

      Wind loads are applied along the sloped member with arrows oriented normal to the member.

4. Scales

   The scales at the side are shown vertically regardless of the orientation of the member.

5. Negative Loads

   To conserve space, and unlike non-sloped members which have negative loads beneath the beam, negative loads are drawn above the beam in the same place as positive loads, but with the arrows reversed.

6. Negative Slope

   Loads are drawn for negative slopes, but these do not function as well as for the positive case and loads are sometimes slightly offset or intersect with the member. To rectify these problems, simply show the same positive slope as if you were viewing the beam from the other side.

7. Combining of Load Type

   This feature has also been implemented for the option of combining all loads of each type into a single graph for that type.