What are the different types of structural elements in a building?
There are basically two types of loads which a structure must support or resist. Gravity loads: These loads act vertically downward such as the Dead Load (the weight of the structure itself along with the walls, overhead water tanks, immovable furniture etc) and Live Load (the weight of inhabitants or users, movable furniture etc) Lateral loads: These loads act horizontally on the structure such as wind load and seismic (earthquake) load. These may act in any direction depending on the incidence of wind or earthquake.
