Dead Load Calculator

Formula

To calculate the Dead Load (DL):

\[ DL = V \times D \]

Where:

\(DL\) is the Dead Load in pounds (lbs)
\(V\) is the Volume of the member/beam in cubic feet
\(D\) is the Density of the material in pounds per cubic foot (lbs/ft³)

What is a Dead Load?

A dead load is defined as the weight of a structure that does not include the weight of the passengers or carrying. For example, a beam holding up a building would have a dead load equal to its own weight.

Example Calculation 1

Let's assume the following values:

Volume of the member/beam (\(V\)) = 10 cubic feet
Density of the material (\(D\)) = 150 lbs/ft³

Using the formula:

\[ DL = 10 \times 150 = 1500 \text{ lbs} \]

The Dead Load is 1500 lbs.

Example Calculation 2

Let's assume the following values:

Volume of the member/beam (\(V\)) = 25 cubic feet
Density of the material (\(D\)) = 100 lbs/ft³

Using the formula:

\[ DL = 25 \times 100 = 2500 \text{ lbs} \]

The Dead Load is 2500 lbs.