How to Define Structure Loads

Load Case

During the first stage of load definition, you define the load cases acting on the structure.

For each case:

Loads Acting in Individual Load Cases

The second load definition stage is accomplished in the Loads dialog box , or in the load tables. To define the loads acting in a defined case using load tables:

  1. Click in the Case field and select the load case defined in the Load Case dialog box.
  2. Click in the Load Type column field. Select from the following load types: dead load, nodal forces, uniform loads, trapezoidal loads, bar forces, temperature, imposed displacements, dilatation and distributed moment.
  3. Select the structure bars or nodes to which to apply the load. Click in the List column, and select the appropriate bars or nodes in the structure.

When you select the applied load type, the load table row is adjusted accordingly. Only those columns that define the load type display.