Building a model

Load patterns and loads

Plain and UniformExcitation patterns, nodal, element and shell loads.

A load pattern groups loads under a time series. Nodal and beam loads appear in the viewport as arrows, as in the frame below.

Patterns are in the Load Patterns group, and each row shows the pattern's name, type, ID and load count. A pattern can have an optional unique Name.

Pattern types

Loads inside a pattern

• Nodal loads are edited in a table (LoadsTable): one row per node with a value per DOF.
• sp imposes a displacement on a DOF.
• eleLoad applies loads to elements:
  • Beam uniform load wx, wy, wz in the beam's local axes (wz is ignored in 2D).
  • Shell pressure, acting along the shell normal.
  • Shell self-weight, as body accelerations bx, by, bz.

A Plain pattern can name an existing time series or use one defined inline.

Showing loads

Use View > Nodal Loads, Element Loads and Load Values, and the Load Patterns submenu to hide individual patterns. Applied loads are hidden while results are shown.