What is the Tributary Load width

[nuadre]

Homework Statement

Find the tributary load width.

Homework Equations

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The Attempt at a Solution

Hi, I'm having trouble understanding the concept of the tributary load width. Can someone help me out with this.

Attatched is the frame that we need to find the Tributary load width for. Can someone explain why it is 6m? I was thinking it would be 5+5/2 = 5m? Or can someone better define what the TLW is for me please. I've attatched the two figures given to us for this question.

Regards, Hai.

 

[PhanthomJay]

The TLW is the longitudinal length of vertical roof or horizontal wind loads supported by a particular frame, based on frame spacing. In this case, since the frames are spaced longitudinally 6 feet apart, the interior frames see 3 feet of roof load from one side, and 3 from the other, so a total of 6 feet of roof load per interior beam (the outside frame see only a 3 foot TLW). Likewise for the wind loads on the walls.