Trapezoidal Loads Dialog

Use this dialog to define how a trapezoidal load must be applied when several members forming a chain are selected.

Access

1. Click on the Member tab in the Load Definition dialog.
2. Set up the load parameters.
3. Select a chain of members.

Dialog elements

Yes

Applies the load to the user-defined chain of members, and retains the orientation of the chain represented by arrows (specifying the beginning and end of the chain).

Yes, but change orientation

Applies the load to the user-defined chain of members, but changes the orientation of the chain represented by arrows (specifying the beginning and end of the chain).

No, apply to single members

Applies the trapezoidal load to single members in the chain.

During structure geometry modification assign loads to separate chain members

Treats the selected chain of members as separate structure members when modifying structure members.

If this option is cleared, modifying structure members treats the chain of members as one super member. It causes the entire load to be calculated again for the new super member geometry.

Tip: Select this option when after a load is applied, the geometry of the structure members subjected to action of the trapezoidal load changes, or the values of the trapezoidal load at the beginning or end of a chain of members (load values p1or p2) change.

The following image shows schematically how the During structure geometry modification assign loads to separate chain members option works for the trapezoidal load (2p). The top image shows what happens when the option is selected; and the bottom image shows what happens when the option is cleared.