Diaphragm loads are Building Direction 1, Building Direction 2, and Mz torsion loads applied at any point within a rigid or semi-rigid diaphragm.

Typically these might be used for the application of externally determined level loads (for example from Wind Tunnel testing of large/ unusual structures).

The Diaphragm load command is available when a 2D plan view is active - it can be used to apply a load to any diaphragm within the current view.

If you have multiple loads to apply at different levels, the Diaphragm Table of loads provides a quicker means of doing this - either by typing the loads and their positions directly into the table, or by pasting the data into the table from a spreadsheet.

To apply a load to any diaphragm within the current 2D view:

1. Open a 2D view of the level containing the diaphragm to which you want to apply the load.
2. Click the Load tab on the ribbon.
3. In the Loading list, select an appropriate load case.

   Diaphragm on the Load tab should now be active.

4. Click Diaphragm
5. In the Properties window, adjust the load details according to your needs.
6. Click the load position, or press F2 to type the exact position.

1. On the Load tab, click Diaphragm Table.
   
   

   The Diaphragm Loads table opens in a dialog. If any loads had already been added (via the Diaphragm Load command, or the Diaphragm Loads table) these would be listed.

2. In order to see all the separate diaphragms at each level to which loads could be applied, click the Show diaphragms with no loads box.
   
   

   Each level containing a diaphragm is listed, (if more than one diaphragm exists at the same level a separate row is created for each).

3. In the Loading list at the bottom of the dialog, select the loadcase within which you want to apply the load.
   
   
4. In the table, click on the diaphragm level to which you want to apply the load, then click Add.
   
   

   A row is displayed for entering the load. The initial default for the load position is simply the middle point in X and Y of the diaphragm extremities.

5. Enter the load values and the actual X and Y coordinates.
6. Add further rows of loading data as required, either at the same level or other levels.
   Note: Multiple loads can be applied to a single diaphragm if required.
7. Click OK when done.

   The loads are displayed on the model iat their defined locations.

1. Open the spreadsheet containing the data to be pasted and copy the contents to the clipboard.
2. In Tekla Structural Designer, on the Load tab, click Diaphragm Table.
   
   

   The Diaphragm Loads table opens in a dialog.

3. In the Loading list at the bottom of the dialog, select the loadcase within which you want to apply the load.
   
   
4. Click Paste New.
   
   

   Provided the spreadsheet contents were in the expected format, the loads and their positions are pasted into the table.

   Note: Existing diaphragm loads will be deleted / replaced by the pasted data.
5. Click OK when done.