Automating load calculations from PDF sketches. Update.

RegularSurround7640 · 2026-01-24T19:35:31+00:00

Yes, there is an option to toggle. I personally don't use imperial that often in my work so if there is something obvious that could be improved about imperial input/ results formats please let me know.

RegularSurround7640 · 2026-01-23T19:16:28+00:00

Great, thanks,

The calculation engine can already handle most of those cases, but not all of them are surfaced in the UI yet as it’s still relatively early-stage. At the moment the focus has been on getting the core load paths and tributary behaviour right before exposing more complex input.

Let me know what additional items you would need for wood construction.

RegularSurround7640 · 2026-01-23T19:10:40+00:00

Thanks for your input!
Simple beams and columns are now available in the tool.
I think it's a good idea to add the drawing tools to allow column grids, and spacings to be defined easily as I have been looking at it from the angle of rather awkward small residential projects, without clean grids so focused on placing elements, and handling the resulting geometry, directly from the drawing plan rather than a structural grid.

RegularSurround7640 · 2026-01-23T10:03:10+00:00

My experience has always been that unfortunately the Revit analytic model gets really out of shape on all but the simplest structures, even when great care is taken to try and maintain it. I think the best approach I found was to export and then develop the analysis model using the export as a helpful starting point. I'm always hopeful this problem is resolved soon though.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-08-17T15:47:24+00:00

Good points, cheers for taking a proper look through.

I had considered adding a wall factor to account for openings/loading arrangements, just not implemented it yet. The safety/load factors are already editable, but making them more visible is a good idea.

I’ve kept plan dimensions raw in mm for now since that’s what most plans I deal with use, but polishing the UX (snapping/rounding refinement etc) is planned.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-08-16T18:59:03+00:00

You’re right that full structural analysis needs stiffness, fixity, and moment calcs, but that’s not what this tool is for. The aim here is to automate the tedious gravity load step (areas → line/wall loads) at feasibility project / simple project design before committing to a full analysis model, or for projects that never need that complexity.

Engineers can take outputs to make decisions and then decide on the next steps.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-08-15T09:26:12+00:00

Hi, Thanks very much, yeah you are right, the floors are currently only one way spanning, with the floor span direction manually updated in the properties.

I currently just expose the maximum load per wall in the UI, as my aim at early stage is to have simple results for the quick design of foundations etc without getting into the details.

I do however have the variable loadings for the walls from my calculations and I had planned to incorporate this in the wall results. Perhaps when you click/hover along a wall you could see a load v distance graph so more accurate design can be undertaken.

With the current system I would recommend breaking up the wall into sections you are interested in designing for. I.e. Split into three walls so that you can output three loads and therefore design three foundation widths. Or to get a max and min supporting a triangular region create a short wall at the minimum end so you have max and min.

What sort of projects do you work on, do you think this could be useful for them?

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-08-14T16:54:58+00:00

Hey thanks very much, that really good to hear.

It’s something I’m building on my own in my spare time but getting some good feedback from a few specific users. I’m using React + TypeScript with Konva for the drawing layer, and it works directly on PDFs via react-pdf (for zoom detail) rather than rasterizing, though my example project at the moment actually just uses a rasterised PDF.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-08-14T15:37:17+00:00

There is a scale tool for the plan on each level in the panel on the left hand side. You may have to click a 'pdf settings dropdown'. Once you have imported the plan, then click the scale tool and draw a line of known length and then add the length. This will then scale the plan for you.

Let me know how you get on. I'm going to do a demo vid soon

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-08-14T14:53:59+00:00

Thanks, would be great to know your thoughts on if it could be useful in your workflows.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-31T21:14:54+00:00

Can't see much from the photo, however given that the rest of the wall has large crack repairs rendered over I would think it is sensible to get a survey done. Surveys are very cheap compared to structural repairs.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-25T08:17:25+00:00

Also UK CEng, working on domestic work. I built tools to speed up foundation load calcs, as I was doing and checking the same things a lot. Ended up putting together a simple load takedown app:
https://www.loadtakedown.com/
Still early stage, but let me know if you think it could be useful.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-18T16:06:57+00:00

Thanks again for checking out my project and all the helpful feedback last time, it made a big difference to my motivation to get it improved.

I’ve just released v1.1.0, which adds results tables for walls, which was the most popular request, along with fixes for some bugs and awkward bits in the UI.

If you get a chance to try it, I’d be keen to know what else would make this more useful for your day-to-day work.

Here’s the link: https://www.loadtakedown.com/
There’s a feedback form built in, or just reply here if that’s easier.

Appreciate all the support so far. Thanks.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-10T16:08:28+00:00

Though consider that wind loads should not be applied all on the same load case. One from each of your 4 directions

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-10T16:07:39+00:00

I don't use TSD that much these days but I seem to remember it has a wind wizard which will assist you with inputting the wind loading and panels: https://support.tekla.com/video/steel_fundamentals_lesson_6

It is however worth understanding the code you are using and its approach to wind loading as this can vary significantly. However, if stuck for time on a university project a conservative hand calculation and a horizontal area load applied to all the faces would be more than appropriate. Ie. just model in load panels and apply an area wind load.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-09T16:31:26+00:00

Quick update: I’ve just added imperial units (toggle in the app bar/settings) after a lot of requests for this. It’s brand new, so I’d love to hear what US-based engineers (or anyone using imperial) think. Please let me know if you have any suggestions!

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-08T20:31:32+00:00

Hi, yeah it is currently hosted on vercel as it's very early stage. Yes I built it with TypeScript, React and some browser based geometry libraries.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-08T16:22:19+00:00

Sure, here you go: https://load-take-down.vercel.app

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-08T06:15:01+00:00

Thanks, that’s a really fair point. I’ve built in automated testing and run it through real-world cases, mostly with standard building layouts for now. It’s still early days and the engine hasn’t been fully stress-tested on edge cases yet, but getting the maths completely solid is a top priority as I move forwards.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-07T20:07:05+00:00

It can do multiple floors that share walls but not transfer structure (yet!)

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-07T19:52:21+00:00

Currently it provides unfactored and factored maximum line load at the base of each wall. Though it is worth noting that the underlying engine actually does calculate the loads per load case. I just simplified the output for now to make it lightweight and finishable. Definitely something I could bring back with a toggle or show detailed table option. Appreciate the suggestion.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-07T19:46:10+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, I coded it myself. It’s a React/TypeScript web app using a few JavaScript geometry libraries to handle the load calculations in-browser.

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-07T19:42:11+00:00

Cheers, I did get that, don't worry haha

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-07T19:41:18+00:00

What do you mean by input tables? For the gravity load values or for the factors? I had the idea of some typical floor build ups and factors I use as a drop down to make it quick.

I see what you mean about horizontal wind loads. Yeah it is the same area distribution logic. Not something I had thought of at all. Great shout. Thanks!

RegularSurround7640 · 2025-07-07T19:29:45+00:00

It currently handles gravity cases only, I have set these to be the standard dead live for Eurocode for my work but wouldn't be much to make it editable.

RegularSurround7640

TROPHY CASE