Use this dialog to define linear loads acting along a selected line defined on planar finite elements of a structure.
- Access
-
- Click
on the Surface tab of the Load Definition dialog.
- Click
A temperature load can be applied to plate or shell structures. It can be uniform, linearly variable, or variably defined using 3 points.
You can define any temperature value on elements (by assigning the values for 3 points A, B, and C) or a temperature gradient along an element's thickness.
- Uniform
- Select this option to ensure that the temperature load of the surface structure element (panel) is uniform.
- Variable 2P
- Select this option if you want the temperature load on the defined surface elements of the structure (panel) to be linearly variable.
- Specify the temperature value in two points (A and B).
- Variable 3P
- Select this option if you want the temperature load on the defined surface elements of the structure (panel) to change according to the defined plane.
- Specify the temperature value in the points (A, B, and C) which define the temperature load change plane.
- Temperature
- Implies a constant temperature on the element.
- Gradient
- Indicates gradients in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the element.
- Geometrical limits
- Takes into account geometrical limits for the load.
- Click Geometrical limits to set the geometrical limits for the load. Note: Planar loads are normally applied to the surface of an entire panel. This option facilitates the load definition for curved panels such as, for example, cylinders created using the Extrude option.
Note: Thermal loads are distributed on a panel using finite elements. Therefore, panel thermal loads are not included in calculations if a panel calculation model without finite elements is used.