Load & Support Diagram

The Load & Support Diagram is used throughout the modern platform to plot a load and support diagram with all unfactored load types and supports. It uses diagram widget type "beamLoadSupport".

Implementation

{
    "type": "sheetTemplateWidgets",
    "attributes": {
        "type": "diagram",
        "diagram": [
            {
                "type": "beamLoadSupport"
            }
        ],
        "equation": [
            {
                "result": "{PARAMETERS}",
                "condition": "CONDITIONS"
            }
        ],
        "referenceId": "load_support_diagram"
    }
}

Plot Parameters

Parameter	Format	Example	Description
xData	array of numbers	`remote.plot.x`	X coordinates along the beam
r	nxm array	`x("r")`	Support locations from a traditional template `r` widget. Either `rDict` or `r` is required
rDict	array of dicts	`remote.plot.R`	Support locations and types, from the solver. Either `rDict` or `r` is required
PL	array of dicts	`remote.plot.PL`	Point load locations and magnitudes
DL	array of numbers	`remote.plot.DL`	Distributed load values at each X-coordinate
ML	array of dicts	`remote.plot.ML`	Moment load locations and magnitudes
AL	array of dicts	`remote.plot.AL`	Axial load locations and magnitudes
ADL	array of numbers	`remote.plot.ADL`	Axial distributed load values at each X-coordinate
lenConvert	number	`0.001`	(defaults to `0.001`) Conversion factor for lengths
dlConvert	number	`1`	(defaults to `1`) Conversion factor for distributed loads
loadLenConvert	number	`1`	(defaults to `1`) Conversion factor load lengths
lenUnit	string	`"m"`	(defaults to `"m"`) Unit for lengths
plUnit	string	`"kN"`	(defaults to `"kN"`) Unit for point loads
mlUnit	string	`"kNm"`	(defaults to `"kNm"`) Unit for moment loads
dlUnit	string	`"kN/m"`	(defaults to `"kN/m"`) Unit for distributed loads
dlAreaUnit	string	`"kPa"`	(defaults to `"kPa"`) Unit for area distributed loads (i.e. the thing multiplied by the load width to get the magnitude)
column	boolean	`false`	(defaults to `false`) Whether to plot diagram vertically, adjusting text locations appropriately
wall	number	`0`	(defaults to `0`) Height of the wall to display
openings	nx6 array	`[]`	(defaults to `[]`) Format: `[["label", type, startY, heightY, startX, endX], ...]`

Support Data Formats

When using the traditional r widget for supports:

r: [
    [0, 1, 1, 0],     // [location, Rx_restrained, Ry_restrained, Mz_restrained]
    [5000, 0, 1, 0],  // Pin support at 5m
    [10000, 1, 1, 1]  // Fixed support at 10m
]

Solver Support Format (rDict)

When using solver-generated support data:

rDict: [
    {
        x: 0,
        type: "fixed",
        Rx: true,
        Ry: true,
        Mz: true
    },
    {
        x: 5000,
        type: "pin",
        Rx: false,
        Ry: true,
        Mz: false
    }
]

Load Data Formats

Point Loads (PL)

PL: [
    {
        x: 2500,       // Location along beam (mm)
        P: 150,        // Load magnitude (kN)
        label: "Dead Load",
        type: "dead"   // Load type for color coding
    }
]

Distributed Loads (DL)

xData: [0, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000],
DL: [0, 5, 5, 8, 8, 0]  // Load values at each x coordinate

Area Distributed Loads

For loads applied over an area (like floor loads):

{
    DL: area_load_intensity,     // Load per unit area (kPa)
    dlAreaUnit: "kPa",
    loadWidth: beam_tributary_width  // Width over which load is applied
}

Openings in Walls

For wall applications, you can specify openings:

openings: [
    ["Window 1", "window", 1000, 1200, 2000, 4000],  // [label, type, startY, height, startX, endX]
    ["Door 1", "door", 0, 2100, 6000, 7500]
]

Example Implementation

{
    "type": "sheetTemplateWidgets",
    "attributes": {
        "type": "diagram",
        "diagram": [
            {
                "type": "beamLoadSupport"
            }
        ],
        "equation": [
            {
                "result": "{
                    xData: remote.plot.x,
                    rDict: remote.plot.R,
                    PL: remote.plot.PL,
                    DL: remote.plot.DL,
                    ML: remote.plot.ML,
                    lenUnit: \"m\",
                    plUnit: \"kN\",
                    dlUnit: \"kN/m\",
                    mlUnit: \"kNm\",
                    lenConvert: 0.001
                }",
                "condition": "@default"
            }
        ],
        "referenceId": "loads_supports",
        "label": "Loads and Supports",
        "showInSuperSummary": true
    }
}

Column/Wall Configuration

For vertical members, use the column configuration:

{
    "result": "{
        xData: height_coordinates,
        PL: vertical_loads,
        DL: distributed_vertical_loads,
        rDict: support_conditions,
        column: true,
        wall: total_height,
        openings: wall_openings,
        lenUnit: \"m\",
        plUnit: \"kN\"
    }"
}

Integration with Templates

With Traditional Templates

{
    r: x("r"),              // From support table widget
    PL: point_load_data,    // From point load table
    DL: distributed_loads,  // From distributed load calculation
    // ...
}

With Solver Templates

{
    rDict: remote.plot.R,   // From beam solver
    PL: remote.plot.PL,     // From beam solver
    DL: remote.plot.DL,     // From beam solver
    // ...
}

Best Practices

Unfactored Loads: This diagram shows unfactored loads - ensure you’re not passing factored values
Load Types: Use consistent load type categorization (dead, live, wind, etc.)
Units: Maintain consistent units throughout the diagram
Support Definition: Choose between r and rDict based on your template architecture
Color Coding: Different load types will be automatically color-coded

The Load & Support Diagram is ideal for showing the initial loading condition before load combinations are applied. It provides a clear view of the structural system for engineers to verify load placement and support conditions.

Ensure that either r or rDict is provided, but not both. The diagram requires one of these parameters to properly display support conditions.

For wall applications with openings, the diagram will automatically adjust the distributed load display to account for the openings, providing a realistic representation of load distribution.

Guides

Analysis Calculators

Design Calculators

Calcs Builder

Implementation

Plot Parameters

Support Data Formats

Traditional r Widget Format

Solver Support Format (rDict)

Load Data Formats

Point Loads (PL)

Distributed Loads (DL)

Area Distributed Loads

Openings in Walls

Example Implementation

Column/Wall Configuration

Integration with Templates

With Traditional Templates

With Solver Templates

Best Practices

​Implementation

​Plot Parameters

​Support Data Formats

​Traditional r Widget Format

​Solver Support Format (rDict)

​Load Data Formats

​Point Loads (PL)

​Distributed Loads (DL)

​Area Distributed Loads

​Openings in Walls

​Example Implementation

​Column/Wall Configuration

​Integration with Templates

​With Traditional Templates

​With Solver Templates

​Best Practices

Implementation

Plot Parameters

Support Data Formats

Traditional r Widget Format

Solver Support Format (rDict)

Load Data Formats

Point Loads (PL)

Distributed Loads (DL)

Area Distributed Loads

Openings in Walls

Example Implementation

Column/Wall Configuration

Integration with Templates

With Traditional Templates

With Solver Templates

Best Practices