Hoofdlast

Hoofdlast is a Dutch term used in technical contexts to refer to the principal or primary load acting on a component, machine, or structure. The word is derived from hoofd meaning "head" or "main" and last meaning "load" or "burden." In practice, hoofdlast denotes the dominant force that governs design and safety criteria, as opposed to secondary or incidental loads. The exact meaning can vary by field, but in many engineering texts it is used as a general label for the main load situation.

In civil and mechanical engineering, hoofdlast is often discussed in relation to other load categories. It is typically contrasted with bijbelasting or zijlasten, which refer to additional or lateral loads. While some sources use hoofdlast as a synonym for the primary load case, others treat it as a descriptive term for the most significant load affecting a given element at a particular time or scenario. The concept aligns with the practice of identifying a primary load case for design and then evaluating the performance under that and other concurrent loads.

Relation to standards and practice varies in Dutch-language literature. More formal design terminology in Dutch often uses dode belasting (dead load) and levende belasting (live or imposed load). Nevertheless, hoofdlast remains a helpful, if informal, shorthand to indicate the dominant load driving a design decision. When working with Dutch codes, engineers typically clarify which specific load components are included in the hoofdlast for a given project. See also: dead load, live load, load case, structural analysis.