Structural Analysis Questions and Answers - Tributary Areas

1. The tributary is an unloaded area. This statement is:-
a) True
b) False

Answer: b
Explanation: The tributary area is the loaded area of a particular structure directly contributing to the load applied.

2. The tributary area lines between two columns/beams are at how much distance from one of the beam?
a) 0.2 of the total in between length
b) 0.4 of the total in between length
c) 0.5 of the total in between length
d) Depends on the amount of load carried

Answer: c
Explanation: Tributary area is bounded by lines lying halfway from next beam/column, irrespective of load carried.

3. For an interior girder, what is the shape of tributary area?
a) Rectangular
b) Triangular
c) Circular
d) Depends upon case

Answer: d
Explanation: If the girder surrounding the girder in question is similar to it, then it will be a triangle, otherwise it might be trapezium in some cases.

4. What is the maximum no. of structures to which an area can be a tributary are to?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

Answer: a
Explanation: A particular area can’t be a tributary area to more than one member of a structure at one time.

5. Which out of the following statements is true?
a) Tributary area > influence area
b) Tributary area <= influence area
c) Tributary area >= influence area
d) No relation can be defined

Answer: b
Explanation: An influence area is always a tributary area. So, tributary area <= influence area.

6. If in an interior beam, adjacent structures are exactly similar then the tributary area is:-
a) Trapezium
b) Acute triangle
c) Obtuse triangle
d) Right angled triangle

Answer: d
Explanation: Since, the structures are similar; angles of triangle will be 45 and 90 degrees.

7. One area can serve as an influence area to more than one member of a structure at the same time.
a) True
b) False

Answer: a
Explanation: Unlike tributary areas influences can serve to more than one as they can affect more than one forces on loaded.

8. When column supports the top floor of a building, then live load reduction is:-
a) Permitted
b) Not permitted
c) Depends upon type of beam
d) Depends upon amount of load

Answer: b
Explanation: When column support a floor, it should be thought of as supporting a single floor only

9. If influence area contributing to a particular load increases, then what happens to the possibility of having full design load on each square meter of area?
a) Increases
b) Decreases
c) Doesn’t affect
d) Depends on case

Answer: b
Explanation: As area increases, likelihood of having max. Load decreases due to known forces.

10. Building codes usually permit reduction in live load when small areas are concerned.
a) True
b) False

Answer: b
Explanation: Possibility of having maximum live load decreases as area increases. So, reduction in live load is permitted in cases of large area, not small area.