Area Loading

Area Loading is a load which is applied over the full extent of an FE surface. Area loads are input in the units kN/m². Having selected to add an Area Load to the FE surface, the input area is as shown below.

Area loading can be assigned to a range of Load Groups and Load Numbers. The load groups match those found in Masterframe, with the exception of the Alternate load group, which is used to create alternating load patterns within the FE surfaces.

The Load Direction controls the axis the loading is applied in. For gravity loads, this will be the Global y-axis, but since the loads act downwards which the Global y-axis is positive upwards, then the load needs to be input as a negative value. The load is input as a kN/m² value. Area loads can also be specified to act normal to an FE surface, by selecting the N(Normal) direction. The normal direction is controlled by the local z-axis of the FE surface under consideration.

To input a varying area load, check the Varying Load checkbox. This will now add an additional input to the area loads. Varying loads are specified by inputting three values of load and the three nodes on the FE surface to which each value of load is to be assigned. The three load values are separated by commas, as are the three nodes. In the example below, the load is set to vary from 0 to 5 kN/m², with the load taking the value zero at nodes N2 and N100, and value -5 at node 98.

Varying area loads must vary linearly.