8/23/2018 Load Combination Summary | Cloud Structural Software

Software Pricing Free Tools Resources Contact Us Login Sign Up

Load Combination Summary Cloud Structural Software / Resources / Load

Combination Summary

Load Combinations are a critical aspect of design. It is important to ensure you are correctly applying
the relevant design load combinations to ensure the minimum design requirements of your local
design code are being met. Here, SkyCiv has released a summary of the design combinations
integrated in our Structural Analysis Software for engineers to use as a reference. We have included
the load combos for ASCE 7-10, AS/NZ 1170, ACI, NBCC and EN 1990.

ASCE 7-10 Load Combinations

ASCE 7 10 is a design code for the United States; focussing on the minumum requirements for
structural design in the US. With this design standard, it provides the recommended load factors and
load combinations to be applied to each of the load types (wind, snow, dead etc..) and is particularly
useful for design codes such as AISC 360 - Structural Steel Buildings. This design standard comes
with two provisions;

ASD - Allowable Strength Design

LRFD - Load and Resistance Factor Design

Below are the summarized load combination factors for ASCE 7-10 based on their provisions:

ASCE 7-10 LRFD Load Combinations

Design Code Design SkyCiv SkyCiv Comment

Equation Code Equation
Comment

1.4D Eq. 2.3.2.1 1.4G -

1.2D + 1.6L + Eq. 2.3.2.2 1.2G + 1.6QL The load type "Snow" is sub-
0.5(Lrr or S or R) + 0.5QS categorized into "snow", "roof live",
and "rain". Selecting this load
combination will automatically
create 3 load combination
equations due to the use of "or" in
the equation speci cation.

1.2D + 1.6(Lrr or S Eq. 2.3.2.3 1.2G + 1.6QS Due to the presence of "or" in two
or R) + (L or 0.5W) + QL places of this load combination, this
1.2G + 1.6QS generates 6 load equations. SkyCiv
+ 0.5QW has separated this into two load
combinations (for the L or 0.5W
options) which generates 3 load
equations each.

1.2D + 1.0W + L + Eq. 2.3.2.4 1.2G + QW + The load type "Snow" is sub-
0.5(Lr or S or R) QL + 0.5QS categorized into "snow", "roof live",
and "rain". Selecting this load
combination will automatically
create 3 load combination
equations due to the use of "or" in
the equation speci cation.

1.2D + 1.0E + L + Eq. 2.3.2.5 1.2G + QL + -

0.2S 0.2QS + E

0.9D + 1.0W Eq. 2.3.2.6 0.9G + QW -

https://skyciv.com/resources/load-combinations/ 1/6
8/23/2018 Load Combination Summary | Cloud Structural Software

Design Code Design SkyCiv SkyCiv Comment

Equation Code Equation
Comment

0.9D + 1.0E Eq. 2.3.2.7 0.9G + E -

ASCE 7-10 ASD Load Combinations

Design Code Design SkyCiv SkyCiv Comment

Equation Code Equation
Comment

D Eq. 2.4.1.1 G -

D+L Eq. 2.4.1.2 G + QL -

D + (Lr or S or R) Eq. 2.4.1.3 G + QS The load type QS "Snow" is sub-

categorized into "snow", "roof live",
and "rain". Selecting this load
combination will automatically
create 3 load combination
equations due to the use of "or" in
the equation speci cation.

D + 0.75L + 0.75(Lr Eq. 2.4.1.4 G + 0.75QL + The load type QS "Snow" is sub-
or S or R) 0.75QS categorized into "snow", "roof live",
and "rain". Selecting this load
combination will automatically
create 3 load combination
equations due to the use of "or" in
the equation speci cation.

D + (0.6W or 0.7E) Eq. 2.4.1.5 G + 0.6QW Due to the presence of an "or" in

G + 0.7E the load combination, two load
combination eqations are required
to represent them. Since "wind" and
"seismic" are not linked by a load
type, two separate equations are
given by SkyCiv, instead of auto-
generating equations in the case of
the QS snow load type.

D + 0.75L + Eq. G + 0.75QL + The load type QS "Snow" is sub-

0.75(0.6W) + 2.4.1.6a 0.45QW + categorized into "snow", "roof live",
0.75(Lr or S or R) 0.75QS and "rain". Selecting this load
combination will automatically
create 3 load combination
equations due to the use of "or" in
the equation speci cation.

D + 0.75L + Eq. G + 0.75QL + Only one load equation is required

0.75(0.7E) + 0.75S 2.4.1.6b 0.75QS + to represent this load combination.
0.525E Despite the presence of QS "Snow"
load type, only one equation is
generated by SkyCiv for the "snow"
sub-type.

0.6D + 0.6W Eq. 2.4.1.7 0.6G + 0.6QW -

0.6D + 0.7E Eq. 2.4.1.8 0.6G + 0.7E -

SkyCiv Structural Analysis Software imports ASCE 7-10 Load Combinations directly. Try for free today!

https://skyciv.com/resources/load-combinations/ 2/6
8/23/2018 Load Combination Summary | Cloud Structural Software

AS/NZ 1170 Load Combinations

AS/NZS 1170 is a design standard for the minimum design loads for buildings and other structures in
Australia and New Zealand. The focus of this standard is to provide structural engineers with load
combinations for design.

The AS 1170 load combinations can be divided into a number of criteria, depending on what is being
designed for:

Stability

Strength

Serviceability Limit States

SkyCiv Structural Analysis Software imports AS 1170 Load Combinations directly. Try for free today!

ACI 318 Load Combinations

ACI 318 is a US concrete design standard released by the American Concrete Institute specifying the
minimum design loads and load factors for concrete structures. Fundamentally, all
structures/structural members should possess design strengths at all sections at least equal to the
required strengths calulated for the factored loads and forces in combinations.

Chapter 9 of the code details the strength and serviceability load combination requirements of
structural members:

ACI 318 Load Combinations

Design Code Design Code SkyCiv SkyCiv Comment

Equation Comment Equation

U = 1.4D Eq. 9-1 1.4G -

U = 1.2D + 1.6L + Eq. 9-2 1.2G + 1.6QL The load type QS "Snow"
0.5(Lr or S or R) + 0.5QS is sub-categorized into
"snow", "roof live", and
"rain". Selecting this load
combination will
automatically create 3
load combination
equations due to the use
of "or" in the
combination.

https://skyciv.com/resources/load-combinations/ 3/6
8/23/2018 Load Combination Summary | Cloud Structural Software

Design Code Design Code SkyCiv SkyCiv Comment

Equation Comment Equation

U = 1.2D + 1.6(Lr or Eq. 9-3. Referencing 1.2G + 1.6QS This load combination
S or R) + (1.0L or R9.2-Required + ψ1QW involves 3 terms. As in
0.5W or 0.8W) Strength (b): Where 1.2G + 1.6QS the combination for Eq.
W is based on + QL 9-2, QS will create 3
service-level wind equations to account for
loads, 0.8W shall be the "or" statement for
used in place of "snow", "roof live", and
0.5W in Eq. 9-3. "rain".

The third term is either L

(live) or W (wind). SkyCiv
represents this by 2
separate load
combinations (each
generating 3 equations).
To account for service
level requirements in
R9.2(b), users can select
load types "Wind:
strength" or "Wind:
service level" to apply
factors 0.5 or 0.8
(respectively) to their
load groups.

U = 1.2D + (1.0 or Eq. 9-4. Referencing 1.2G + γuQW This load combination
1.6)W + 1.0L + 0.5(Lr R9.2-Required + QL + 0.5QS involves 4 terms. As in
or S or R) Strength (b): Where the combination for Eq.
W is based on 9-2, QS will create 3
service-level wind equations to account for
loads, 1.6W shall be the "or" statement for
used in place of "snow", "roof live", and
1.0W in Eq. 9-4. "rain".

The second term for W

(wind) has two possible
factors. To account for
service level
requirements in R9.2(b),
users can select load
types "Wind: strength" or
"Wind: service level" to
apply factors 1.0 or 1.6
(respectively) to their
load groups.

U = 1.2D + (1.0 or Eq. 9-5. Referencing 1.2G + γaE + This load combination
1.4)E + 1.0L + 0.2S R9.2-Required QL + 0.2QS involves 4 terms. As
Strength (c): Where "snow" is explicitly
E is based on mentioned in the
service-level forces, combination, QS will only
1.4E shall be used generate one equation.
in place of 1.0E in
Eq. 9-5. The second term for E
(seismic) has two
possible factors. To
account for service level
requirements in R9.2(c),
users can select load
types "Seis: strength" or
"Seis: service level" to
apply factors 1.0 or 1.4
(respectively) to their
load groups.

https://skyciv.com/resources/load-combinations/ 4/6
8/23/2018 Load Combination Summary | Cloud Structural Software

Design Code Design Code SkyCiv SkyCiv Comment

Equation Comment Equation

U = 0.9D + (1.0 or Eq. 9-6. Referencing 0.9G + γuQW This load combination
1.6)W R9.2-Required involves 2 terms. Only 1
Strength (b): Where equation is generated.
W is based on
service-level wind The second term for W
loads, 1.6W shall be (wind) has two possible
used in place of factors. To account for
1.0W in Eq. 9-6. service level
requirements in R9.2(b),
users can select load
types "Wind: strength" or
"Wind: service level" to
apply factors 1.0 or 1.6
(respectively) to their
load groups.

U = 0.9D + (1.0 or Eq. 9-7. Referencing 0.9G + γaE This load combination
1.4)E R9.2-Required involves 2 terms. Only 1
Strength (c): Where equation is generated.
E is based on
service-level forces, The second term for E
1.4E shall be used (seismic) has two
in place of 1.0E in possible factors. To
Eq. 9-7. account for service level
requirements in R9.2(c),
users can select load
types "Seis: strength" or
"Seis: service level" to
apply factors 1.0 or 1.4
(respectively) to their
load groups.

SkyCiv Structural Analysis Software imports ACI 318 Load Combinations directly. Try for free today!

NBCC 2010 Load Combinations

NBCC 2010 is the Canadian provision for the design and construction new buildings. It provides
minimum technical provisions for the design and construction of new buildings. For the purposes of
load combinations, Part 4 of the design code provides speci cations for limit states design:

NBCC 2010 Load Combinations

EN 1990:2002 EC0, EN 1991 EC1 Load Combinations

The Eurocodes are a set of standards for how structural design should be conducted within the
European Union. EN 1990:2002 (ECO) sets out the basis of structural design whereas EN 1991 (EC1)
speci es the actions on structures. In conjunction, these two documents provide a methodology for
the combination of actions (load combinations) for limit states design. The ultimate limit states for
loss of equilibrium (EQU), internal failure (STR), ground deformation (GEO) need to be checked
together with accidental/seismic (ALS) and servicibility limit states (SLS) when appropriate.

ULS: EQU

ULS: STR

ULS: GEO

https://skyciv.com/resources/load-combinations/ 5/6
8/23/2018 Load Combination Summary | Cloud Structural Software

ALS: Accidental and Seismic

SLS

SkyCiv Structural Analysis Software imports NBCC 2010 Load Combinations directly. Try for free
today!
 

0 Comments SkyCiv 
1 Login

Sort by Best
 Recommend 5 ⤤ Share

Start the discussion…

LOG IN WITH
OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS ?

Name

Be the first to comment.

ALSO ON SKYCIV

How to Draw Bending Moment Diagrams Free Truss and Roof Calculator
1 comment • a year ago 30 comments • 3 years ago
Femi — Great explanation! E-Street Developers — Hi Jordan,I can understand that concern.
In the text above the calculator it does mention the limitations of
the free software:"Please note some features have been disabled

SkyCiv Announces Science Olympiad Sponsorship Statical or First Moment of Area of Beam Sections
1 comment • a year ago 1 comment • 3 years ago
William Kuang — Science woo! Nimal Jayaratne — HiCan we determine the first moment of inertia
Avatar Avatarof a quarter circle elbow?Kind regards

✉ Subscribe d Add Disqus to your siteAdd DisqusAdd 🔒 Disqus' Privacy PolicyPrivacy PolicyPrivacy

SkyCiv Software Free Resources About Connect With Us Subscribe to Mailing

List
Pricing Beam Calculator Contact Us Book a Live Demo
SkyCiv Beam Truss Calculator Documentation Facebook Enter your email below
SkyCiv Design NEW Frame Calculator News & Blog Twitter for more resources,
SkyCiv Structural 3D Shaft Calculator About Us LinkedIn news and special o ers:
SkyCiv Section Builder MoI Calculator F.A.Q YouTube
Enter Email
SkyCiv API NEW Tutorials Terms & Conditions
Help & Support
Subscribe
Careers

56,252 2,916,287 2,432,096 484,191

 Projects Managed  Projects Solved  Beams Solved  Structures Solved

© Copyright 2017. SkyCiv Engineering. ABN: 73 605 703 071 Language: English

https://skyciv.com/resources/load-combinations/ 6/6