Loading & Cases¶

This section covers how to define loads on your structure, organize them into load cases, and combine cases for design checks.

Add a Load¶

Load tools include:

• Nodal Forces: point loads applied directly at nodes (Fx, Fy).
• Point Loads on Beams: concentrated forces applied at any point along an element.
• Uniform Distributed Loads: uniform loads along a beam segment.
• Linear Distributed Loads: linearly varying loads with different intensities at start and end.
• Bending Moments (Point): concentrated moments applied at nodes or beam points.
• Bending Moments (Distributed): distributed moment intensity along a segment.

Eurocode Map Guidance: BeamLab provides integrated Eurocode mapping support to help define wind, snow, and seismic actions based on geographical location and structural type. In the current version, only snow for France is available.

Add a Load Case¶

In the Load Combination panel, use Add Case to create independent load scenarios such as Dead Load, Live Load, Wind, Snow, and Seismic. Keep each physical action family separated for transparent post-processing and design checks. Each load case can contain multiple loads.

Add a Combination¶

Use Add Combination to combine existing load cases with appropriate factors for design checks. BeamLab supports workflows aligned with Eurocode logic:

• Ultimate Limit State (ULS): design combinations with higher partial safety factors.
• Serviceability Limit State (SLS): combinations with lower factors for deflection and cracking checks.
• Custom Combinations: define your own factor values and combination rules.

The solver can compute internal forces for each combination independently, allowing you to find critical results for design.