Beam Attributes: Pre-load

Description

Assigns pre-load as either pre-stress or pre-strain to selected beam elements.

Pre-load is applied in the axial direction of the beam.

For restrained beams, a positive pre-load results in a tensile stress, while a negative pre-load results in a compressive stress.

For unrestrained beams a positive pre-load causes the element to contract, while a negative pre-load causes the element to stretch.

The amount of load recovered in the element depends on the restraint conditions and stiffness of connected elements.

Pre-load attributes are load case dependent.

Dialog

Type

Pre-load type as either pre-stress or pre-strain.

Value

Pre-load value.

Common Controls

• Components
• Equation Editor
• Retrieve from model
• Keep selection
• Scale / Add / Delete / Apply

Units

Pre-tension: Force (e.g., N, lbf).

Pre-strain: Dimensionless.

See Also

• Results Interpretation: Total, Deformation, Nominal and Engineering Strain