> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://calcs.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Load & Support Diagram
> Display unfactored load types and supports on structural members
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
```json theme={null}
{
"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
### Traditional r Widget Format
When using the traditional `r` widget for supports:
```javascript theme={null}
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:
```javascript theme={null}
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)
```javascript theme={null}
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)
```javascript theme={null}
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):
```javascript theme={null}
{
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:
```javascript theme={null}
openings: [
["Window 1", "window", 1000, 1200, 2000, 4000], // [label, type, startY, height, startX, endX]
["Door 1", "door", 0, 2100, 6000, 7500]
]
```
## Example Implementation
```json theme={null}
{
"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:
```json theme={null}
{
"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
```javascript theme={null}
{
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
```javascript theme={null}
{
rDict: remote.plot.R, // From beam solver
PL: remote.plot.PL, // From beam solver
DL: remote.plot.DL, // From beam solver
// ...
}
```
## Best Practices
1. **Unfactored Loads**: This diagram shows unfactored loads - ensure you're not passing factored values
2. **Load Types**: Use consistent load type categorization (dead, live, wind, etc.)
3. **Units**: Maintain consistent units throughout the diagram
4. **Support Definition**: Choose between `r` and `rDict` based on your template architecture
5. **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.