Tributary Area of Structural

Members
Steven Vukazich
San Jose State University
 Vertical (Gravity) Load Path
1 2 3

1’-6” 22’-0” 22’-0”

1’-6”
1’-6”

A
W14x22 W18x46
1-1/2” 18 gauge Load Path

W18x50

W18x50
metal deck typ.
DO W14x22
18’-0” 6’-0” typ.
Metal Deck
DO W14x22
Dbl 6x6

B
DO W18x46 Beams
(e.g. W14x22)

W18x50
W18x50
DO W14x22
18’-0”
Girders or Truss
DO W14x22
(e.g. W18x50)
C
DO W18x46
Columns
W18x50

W18x50

W18x50
DO W14x22
18’-0”

Foundation
DO W14x22
W14x22 W18x46
D

1’-6”
Deck Carries Uniform Load to Beams

Loads carried to the beam from

the metal deck are uniformly
distributed over the beam
Vertical (Gravity) Load Path

Loads carried to the larger

beam (girder) from the smaller
beams are concentrated at the
point of the connection and
applied as point loads
Framing at Deck Overhang

Framing at overhanging
deck carries load to
girder at edge
Consider the Timber Framing System

10 ft Simpson connectors
J1
Plywood sheathing
B1 C1 B3
J2
16 ft
Joists @ 16 o.c. B2

B3
20 ft 16 ft
!
16 in 16 in B2
J2 Joist
 Timber Framing

Joists
(closely spaced beams)
beam Simpson
Connectors
(joist hangers)
Timber column
(post)
 Tributary Area of Joist J1
8” 8”

10 ft
J1

B1 C1 B3
J2
16 ft
Joists @ 16” o.c. B2

20 ft 16 ft 1 ft
16 in 10 ft = 13.3 ft -
12 in
 Tributary Area of Beam B1

10 ft
5 ft

B1 C1 B3
8 ft
16 ft
B2

20 ft 16 ft

8 ft + 5 ft 20 ft = 260 ft -
Tributary Area of Beam B3
(Similar to Beam B1)

J1 10 ft

B1 C1 B3
J2
16 ft
Joists @ 16 o.c. B2

8 ft + 5 ft 16 ft = 208 ft -
20 ft 16 ft
!
 Tributary Area of Beam B2
(Point load from Beam B3)

J1 10 ft

B1 C1 B3
J2
16 ft
Joists @ 16 o.c. B2

8 ft + 5 ft 8 ft = 104 ft -
20 ft 16 ft
!
 Tributary Area of Column C1

10 ft
5 ft

B1 C1 B3
8 ft
16 ft
B2

10 8 ft

20 ft 16 ft

8 ft + 5 ft 10 ft + 8 ft = 234 ft -
Tributary Area of Members in CE 160 Lab Building
1 2 3

1’-6” 22’-0” 22’-0”

1’-6”
1’-6”
A
W14x22 W18x46
Point load (lab 4)

W18x50

W18x50
18’-0” DO W14x22

Tributary Area
W14x22
of W14x22 beam
B
DO W18x46

6 ft 22 ft 6’-0” typ.

W18x50
DO
= 132 ft -

W18x50
18’-0”

DO

C
DO W18x46
W18x50

W18x50
Uniformly DO
distributed
18’-0”
Tributary Area
load (lab 4) DO of W18x50 Girder
W14x22 W18x46
D

6 ft + 6 ft 11 ft + 11 ft
W14x22 = 264 ft -