Load Combination Generator
Generate scalar structural load combinations for AS/NZS 1170, ASCE 7-22, Eurocode 0, and NBCC 2020 from nominal dead, live, snow, wind, seismic, and related load effects.
Load Combination Generator
Enter nominal/unfactored load effects for ASCE 7-22. Values can represent forces, line loads, reactions, shears, or moments as long as all entries use one consistent unit family (kN, kN/m, or kNm).
Enter wind and horizontal earthquake effects as positive magnitudes. The calculator checks positive and negative wind/seismic signs where applicable. Seismic entries are code-defined action effects for the direction being checked, not raw base shear.
How to Use This Calculator
Select the design code, then enter unfactored load effects for the action categories shown. The values can be vertical loads, beam reactions, member shears, bending moments, or line loads, provided every value is in a consistent unit. The calculator uses the same load-combination templates as the AutoCalcs 3D FEA load-combination wizard, then evaluates those templates against the scalar values entered here.
The combined value is the numeric result of applying the displayed combination to one known load effect. For example, if D, L, and W are support reactions in kN, the combined value is the combined support reaction for that combination. If they are bending moments in kNm, the combined value is the combined bending moment.
Supported Codes
This standalone calculator currently supports the same code families exposed by the AutoCalcs load-combination wizard: AS/NZS 1170 for Australian and New Zealand action combinations, ASCE 7-22 for US strength and ASD combinations, Eurocode 0 for European ULS and SLS combinations, and NBCC 2020 for Canadian ULS and SLS combinations.
The input fields change by selected code. ASCE 7-22 exposes dead, live, roof live, snow, rain, wind, vertical and horizontal earthquake effects, and atmospheric ice inputs. AS/NZS 1170 exposes permanent, imposed, ultimate wind, service wind, ultimate/service snow, and earthquake actions. Eurocode 0 and NBCC expose their gravity, snow, wind, and seismic action categories.
What This Generator Includes
Blank load types are omitted from companion terms, so the result table only shows combinations that can be formed from the scalar actions entered. ASCE 7-22 uses its LRFD or ASD selector; the other supported codes use their available ULS and SLS template families.
It intentionally does not try to resolve project-specific reductions, occupancy exceptions, notional loads, flood, construction-stage loads, overstrength combinations, storage-use adjustments, or serviceability drift combinations. Those choices still need to come from the governing code edition and project criteria.
Positive and Negative Wind or Seismic
Wind and horizontal earthquake effects can act in opposite directions. Enter their magnitudes as positive values; the generated combinations include both signs so the maximum and uplift/minimum scalar cases can be reviewed. For a full lateral analysis, each direction and load case should be modelled separately before combinations are enveloped.
Scalar Load Combinations vs Full Analysis
This page combines one set of load effects. That is useful when you already know the dead, live, wind, or seismic action at a member or support. For a whole frame, each load case creates its own force and displacement pattern, so the combinations should be applied to the full analysis model rather than only to a single scalar value.
Scope and Disclaimer
This calculator evaluates the load-combination templates exposed by the AutoCalcs load-combination wizard for scalar gravity, wind, snow, seismic, and related inputs. It is not a complete code engine and does not cover every special case, reduction, exception, construction-stage combination, flood, extraordinary load, or project-specific requirement. Confirm final combinations against the governing code edition and project criteria.