What is force and types of forces in introduction to structural design and detail

Force is an interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object. It can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (which includes being made to start moving where it was at rest, or stopping it from moving). Force can also be described as a push or a pull. In structural design, understanding forces is crucial for ensuring a building or structure can safely withstand loads.

There are several types of forces commonly considered in structural design:

1. Dead Loads: These are permanent forces acting on a structure, such as the weight of the building materials themselves (concrete, steel, walls, floors).
2. Live Loads: These are temporary or movable forces, like the weight of people, furniture, equipment, or snow on a roof.
3. Environmental Loads: These include forces from nature, such as wind loads (pressure and suction from wind) and seismic loads (forces generated by earthquakes).
4. Other Loads: Depending on the structure, there can be other forces like impact loads (sudden application of force), thermal loads (expansion or contraction due to temperature changes), or soil pressure.