Thanks for the help guys. I actually just provided a sample scenario, because I was interested in how the loads would be distributed if you were designing the frames for a new building. I was not exposed to the tributary area concept in school since I didn't take any structural analysis classes...
So if say the distance between frames 20' and the ac unit (3500#) is located 4' from Frame A and 16' from Frame B would the following be correct:
3500*(16/20) should be applied to frame A
and
3500*(4/16) should be applied to frame B
I have question related to tributary area and concentrated loads. If you have a concentrated rooftop load on a metal building, AC unit for example, positioned between two intermediate frames how do you allocate that load to each frame? Do you use a ratio of the distance from each frame? Or if it...
