Lastretningen

Lastretningen is a term used in Norwegian and Danish technical language to denote the direction of the load acting on a body, component, or structure. It describes where external forces are applied relative to the geometry and orientation of the part and is a fundamental concept in engineering, physics and materials science.

In analysis and design, the lastretningen determines how stresses and strains develop within a member. Axial loading along the load direction produces normal stress, bending introduces stresses perpendicular to the beam’s axis, and shear loading acts parallel to cross-sections. The orientation of the lastretningen relative to a component’s local axes influences material selection, cross‑section geometry, fastener choices, and support conditions. Engineers often decompose complex loading into components along convenient axes and use vector notation to express the total load as a sum of directional components.

Practical examples include a vertical gravity load on a column, which defines the vertical lastretningen, or a bolt subjected to a combination of shear and tension where the effective lastretningen follows the bolt axis. In vehicles, ships, or buildings, multiple load cases—such as wind, acceleration, or wave forces—produce different lastretninger that must be considered in design and safety assessments.

Accurate specification of the lastretningen is essential for correct boundary conditions, failure analysis, and fatigue life estimation. See also load direction and loading condition.