Building loads
In every building like the one shown in the bottom figure, permanent (dead) and imposed (live) loads are applied. The latter is much lower than the former, for example, 3 persons and the living-room furniture weight as much as a single m2 of slab surface while a car weights as much as a sole beam. Structure loads can be classified into three categories gravity loads, seismic loads and wind loads.
Permanent and imposed loads
The structural frame is designed to continuously withstand the vertical gravitational loads (self-weight, masonry walls, floor coverings, cars, furniture, people etc) and, not in a continuous but in a periodical basis, the wind and snow actions. Moreover, it must always bear the “self-induced” loadings caused by temperature changes etc. Apart from the usual loads, in earthquake-prone regions, the structural frame must have enough strength surplus distributed in such a way so that in the critical moment of an earthquake, to be able to respond successfully, retaining the building intact.
Dead loads – self-weight
The density and the related unit weight of the materials used in construction are:
Reinforced concrete ρ=2.50 t/m3 (ε=25.0 kN/m3)
Lightweight concrete for ground leveling ρ=0.80 t/m3 (ε=8.0 kN/m3)
Sand mortar ρ=2.00 t/m3 (ε=20.0 kN/m3)
Marble ρ=2.70 t/m3 (ε=27.0 kN/m3)
The dead mass of one m2 of the above slab is,
g = 0.15*2.50 + 0.04*0.8 + 0.02*2.0 + 0.02*2.7 = 0.5 t,
i.e. the self mass of one square meter of a usual slab is 0.5 t (weight 5.0 kN)
Dead loads – water
ρ = 1.00 t/ m3 (ε = 10.0 kN/m3)
The dead mass of one m2 of a pool slab, when the pool is filled with just 1.0 m of water is, 1.4 t (weight 14.0 kN)
Dead loads – garden soil
ρ = 2.50 t/m3 (ε = 25.0 kN/m3)
The dead mass of one m2 of a slab, with 1.0 m of soil on top is 2.5 t (weight 25.0 kN)
Dead loads – masonry
Masonry stretcher bond ρ = 0.21 t/m² (ε = 2.1 kN/m²)
Masonry Flemish bond ρ = 0.36 t/m² (ε = 3.6 kN/m²)
A wall of 1.00 m length, 2.85 m height and 100 mm thickness has a mass equal to 0.6 t. (weight 6.0 kN).
Live loads – normal human loading
ρ = 0.20 t/m² (ε = 2.0 kN/m²)
The live mass of one m2 residential building is 0.2 t (weight 2.0 kN)
Live loads – humans concentration
ρ = 0.50 t/m² (ε = 5.0 kN/m²)
The live mass of one m² commercial area is 0.5 t (weight 5.0 kN)
As a rule, snow loading is lower than the live load generated by the use of people and its value ranges between 0.60 and 1.50 kN/m².
Vehicle live loads
ρ = 0.25 t/m² (ε = 2.5 kN/m²)
The live distributed load of 1 m² of a parking space is 0.25 t (weight 2.5 kN)
Dead-live loads comparison
In a residential building, the maximum live loads are about 20% of the dead loads
Live loads during an earthquake
In random cases like earthquakes, the extensive live loads may reach 6% of the dead loads
