Load Combination Sets

Several sets of building code load combinations are built into VisualPlate. Custom load combinations may also be created in the Load Combinations tab of the Load Case Manager. Service level load combinations may be added if you want to look at results.

Importing Load Combinations

Custom factored load combinations can be imported from the clipboard using the Import From Clipboard button in the Load Combinations tab in the Load Case Manager. Text must be tab delimited and copied to the clipboard in the following format:

     {ComboName} {Factor} {ServiceCaseName} {Factor} {ServiceCaseName2} …

For example:

     ComboName    1.2    D     1.6    L     0.5    Lr

     MyCombo     0.9    D     1.3    W

Seismic Criteria

To correctly generate load combinations that contain seismic loads, several additional parameters are required. Please refer to ASCE 7, Section 12.4, for how these parameters are used in generating load combinations. It is important to note that these parameters (such as SDS and SD1) are only used to generate load combinations. For example, ASCE 7 says that Seismic Category A does not require the combined orthogonal direction combinations (e.g. X+30%Y), but Category D does. VisualPlate does not automatically generate any loads, just the combination cases.