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Combination generator (ASCE 7)

Modified: 16 Sep 2026 Tekla Structural Designer 2026

Combination generator (ASCE 7)

Note: The following are not considered in Combination Generator
  • Construction Stage combinations - these must be created manually.
  • Settlement loadcase types - these must be added manually.

Open the Combination Generator

  1. On the Load ribbon, click Combination

    The Loading dialog box opens on the Combinations page. On this page, you can see all currently existing load combinations.

  2. Click Generate...

    The Combination Generator opens on the Initial Parameters page.

Initial Parameters page

On this page you specify the initial parameters according to your needs.

  • Delete/Replace combinations

    If combinations already exist, you can either delete them, or replace only the ones that have the same names as those generated during this run.

  • Scenario

    The Combination Generator automatically names each combination according to its content.

    You can add a Scenario prefix before the generated names or leave the Scenario field blank if a prefix is not required.

    By entering a Scenario and selecting the Replace only combinations generated by this run option, you can re-run the Combination Generator to quickly generate additional combinations for alternative scenarios, such as 'Erection' or 'Operating'.

To move to the next page

  1. Specify the above parameters as required.
  2. Click Next.

Combinations page

This page lists suggested ASD and LRFD combinations (with appropriate factors), which will depend on the version of ASCE7 being worked to.

The default combinations created for each ASCE7 version are listed below. The combinations shown will only be displayed for your model provided all the loadcase types they contain have Include in Generator selected on the Loadcases page of the Loading dialog.

The combination names are generated automatically according to their content and cannot be edited at this stage.

ASCE7-22

The following ASD combinations are defaulted if there are no temperature loads.

If temperature loads exist, an extra Dead + Temperature combination is generated:

The temperature loads are also added into the original combinations as follows:

The following LRFD combinations are defaulted if there are no temperature loads.

If temperature loads exist, extra temperature combinations are generated:

The temperature loads are also added into the original combinations as follows:

ASCE7-16

The following ASD combinations are defaulted if there are no temperature loads.

If temperature loads exist, an extra Dead + Temperature combination is generated:

The temperature loads are also added into the original combinations as follows:

The following LRFD combinations are defaulted if there are no temperature loads.

If temperature loads exist, extra temperature combinations are generated:

The temperature loads are also added into the original combinations as follows:

ASCE7-10

The following ASD combinations are defaulted.

The following LRFD combinations are defaulted.

Note:

If Temperature loadcase types exist they would need to be manually added once the combinations have been generated.

ASCE7-05

The following ASD combinations are defaulted.

The following LRFD combinations are defaulted.

Note:

If Temperature loadcase types exist they would need to be manually added once the combinations have been generated.

Note:

If minimum lateral loads have been specified via Home > Model Settings > Minimum Lateral Loads, extra combinations will be created in addition to those listed above to allow the MLLs to be configured on a later page.

To move to the next page

  1. Use the ‘Generate’ box to control which combinations are to be generated.
  2. Should you require, you can also adjust the default strength factors applied in each generated combination.
  3. Click Next.

Service page

This page indicates which combinations are to be checked for serviceability and the factors applied.

To move to the next page

  1. Should you require, you can also adjust the default factors applied in each generated combination.
  2. Click Next.

NL (global imperfections) page

This page is used to set up the notional loads specified in Home > Model Settings > NL (Global Imperfections). You can specify NLs and factors in each of four directions. For each direction selected a separate NL combination will be generated.

Any combination with wind in is automatically greyed.

To move to the next page

  1. Use the Dir boxes to specify the directions in which the NLs are to be applied.
  2. Should you require, you can also adjust the default factors applied in each direction.
  3. Click Next, or, if MLLs haven't been requested, click Finish.

Minimum Lateral Loads page

If minimum lateral loads have been specified via Home > Model Settings > Minimum Lateral Loads, this page allows you to apply them. (If set to None this page is not displayed.)

To specify MLLs and generate the combinations

  1. Use the Dir boxes to specify the directions in which the minimum lateral loads are to be applied.
  2. Use the list at the top of the page to select the gravity combination from which the minimum lateral load values are to be calculated.
    Note: The combination used for calculating the MLLs can be different to the one to which the MLLs are applied.
  3. Should you require, you can also adjust the default factors applied in each direction.

  4. Click Finish.

    The Combination Generator closes and you are returned to the Combinations page of the Loading dialog box. The combinations selected in this run of the generator either add to or replace any existing combinations (according to your selection on the Initial Parameters page).

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