Understanding Load Paths

A load path is the continuous route that forces follow from their point of application through structural members down to the foundation and into the earth. Every roof tile, occupant, and piece of furniture creates a gravity load that must be carried by rafters or joists, transferred to beams, passed to columns or walls, channeled through the foundation, and finally absorbed by the soil. If any link in this chain is missing or undersized, the structure can fail. Understanding load paths is the single most important concept in structural design.