Beam Attributes: Global Distributed Force

Description

Assigns distributed forces in the global Cartesian axes to selected beam elements.

The distribution can be constant, linear, triangular or trapezoidal. It may act over the whole or partial length of the beam, in any of the global XYZ Cartesian axes.

A positive distributed force acts in the positive direction of the global axis.

Global distributed force attributes are load case dependent.

Dialog

P1 / P2 / PA / PB

Value of distributed force at specified points along the beam. The force is linearly interpolated between these points.

P1

Distributed force value at end 1.
P2

Distributed force value at end 2.
PA

Distributed force value at position a.
PB

Distributed force value at position b.

a / b

Distance of points PA and PB from each end, specified as a fraction of the element's length.

Non-dimensional values in the range 0 to 1.

a

Relative distance from end 1 of the beam. Determines the position of PA. At end 1, a=0.0.
b

Relative distance from end 2 of the beam. Determines the position of PB. At end 2, b=0.0.

Dir X / Y / Z

One of the three global XYZ Cartesian axes in which the distributed force acts.

Projected

If set, the distributed force is applied over element's projected length on the specified global axis.

Swap

Swaps the values of a and b, P1 and P2, PA and PB.

Assigns an ID to the attribute.

By using different IDs, multiple forces can be applied to the same element for the same load case.

IDs are positive integers between 1 and 192.

Distribution Type

The distribution type includes constant, linear, triangular and trapezoidal over the whole or partial length of the element.

The appropriate text boxes will be active depending on the force distribution selected.

Common Controls

Units

Components: Force/Length (e.g., N/m, lbf/in).

Relative Distances: Dimensionless.