Do you still do load takedowns by hand?

[RegularSurround7640]

I’m a chartered structural engineer (CEng MICE) in the UK, and over the years I’ve done load path calcs for everything from small houses to big infrastructure and power stations. One thing that’s never really changed: working out vertical loads from 2D plans has always felt awkward and time-consuming, especially early in a project before I commit to an analysis model.

I got tired of feeding wall loads into spreadsheets, and then checking, so I started building a tool to make that quicker and cleaner. It’s web-based and works off PDF plans. Still early days, but it’s working for me.

I’m really curious, how are you all handling this in practice? Still doing it manually? Custom spreadsheets? Something more automated?

And if a tool like this could save time on those early calcs, is it something you'd actually use regularly?

Happy to share the current version if anyone’s interested. Would really appreciate honest thoughts.

 

[XR250]

For me, I imagine this would end up taking longer than hand calcs - unless it was a lot of stories - jobs I typically do not engage in.

 

[Ron247]

My perception of load paths only includes determining the paths. It does not include calculations of magnitude. I think of that as "analysis" in whatever form I opt for at the time (handcalcs, spreadsheet, or a computer model). I would be interested in what you are working on.

From a calculation standpoint, I generally computer model my simple structures when needed but only after I am comfortable with my load paths. I started a thread on the Student Discussion board the other day about load paths. I wanted some clarity and consistency in what we all perceive them to mean. Just like here, where we both seem to judge them to be somewhat different things.

I noted many people reviewed that post, but only 2 experienced engineers responded and no student responses. Either it is too simple, not challenging, intimidating or any combination. I have no idea which. But it has been interesting. The request was to create your own description of what a load path is and solve 2 somewhat simple structures but within your description. I was not asking for a set of steps to perform, just where does your answer follow your description and do what your description states.

 

[Eng16080]

I do load takedowns manually using layers in AutoCAD. I don't love this approach but it's generally simple and relatively efficient for my purposes. For more complicated structures, I'll create a partial or full model in RISA3D.

I saw your post on reddit not too long ago. What you've created looks pretty slick. If I'm understanding the functionality correctly, I think you'll want to add the ability to transfer loads through floors. Also, I would want to be able to represent point loads. Finally, load types and load combinations would also be good.

Overall nice job. Creating something like this is certainly not simple. It's always hard to find the right balance between creating a tool that's so basic it's not of much value versus so complicated that you'll never finish. I can see this as being useful as a quick sanity check of the overall load paths/distribution.

 

[Ron247]

I have never heard the term "Load Takedown" but I mainly work alone and in a limited region. It sounds like it is the same as what I call "Load Path".

Are they the same in your opinions?

I looked online and see a lot of info on load takedown. Is it limited to Gravity Loads? I ask because several descriptions said "gravity loads".

 

[Eng16080]

I have never heard the term "Load Takedown" but I mainly work alone and in a limited region. It sounds like it is the same as what I call "Load Path".

I have no idea what the correct terminology is here. I normally refer to this as "Load Path", but I used "Load Takedown" here because OP used the term. In my mind, it's simply the path that an applied load takes in it's journey through the structure from point of application to the foundation (or other boundary condition).

 

[Flotsam7018]

For simple structures (mostly residential) we are still doing this manually. But I'd love to see more of what you have developed, if there's an ability to be more efficient and reduce errors I'm always intrigued.