Line Loads (prior to 2019)

The program also enables the application of general gravity line loads to a panel in which gravity area loading has been applied.  A general line load can be applied to a panel or over a range of panels and its location is simply measured relative to a member, which acts as a datum.  The line load will be distributed according to the span characteristics of the panel, i.e. one way or two way spanning.

Each definition of line load is stored in a line load member group.  The information held by the group relates to the position and dimensions of the line load relative to a member and also the magnitude of dead and live loading in kN/m.

Line loads can be placed over area loading panels. The line load will be resolved according to the direction of span of the panel and transferred to the panels supporting members.

The corresponding line load diagram depicts what each of the four fields – A, B, C and D – represent. The red line along the bottom indicates the selected member from which you specify the line load start and end points.

The fields B and C together represent the start point of the line load, measured from the start of the selected member (lower node number end), in the XZ plane. Fields A and D represent the end point of the line load, measured from the start of the selected member, in the XZ plane. Note that A and B start from the centre line of the selected member.

Notes

If your line load, or part of it, lies beyond the external bounds of the area loading panels, the portion of load beyond the boundary members will not be taken into account

Opening the Line Load Editor

1.Open the Area Loading Editor

By default, the Area Loading Editor should open on the “Area Loading Panel Groups” tab. The Line Loads button is the third button to the right of it.

1.Click the Line Loads button

Adding a Line Load

1.Open the Line Loads Editor

2.Click the Add New Group button to create the group

3.Provide a title for your new line load group

4.Click the Add/Remove Items button

5.Click on a member from which you want to apply the line load

6.Specify a start point for your line load by providing a value in the B and C textboxes

7.Fields A and D represent a length from the start point of the member to the end point of the line load – provide a value for both to establish your line load definition

8.Under the Load Intensity area, you have the option to specify up to four different types of load and their magnitudes

a)You can rotate through the available load group letter denominations, usually D, L, A and G.

b)Apply a value to each load group denomination using the adjacent textbox and separating values with a semi-colon (;)

9.With the line load defined, you can click other members onto which this line load definition can also be applied

Hint: In a line load group if all the dimensions are zero then the line load is applied over the full length of the member.  Also when both distances of the line load perpendicular to the member are zero, the line load is applied on the actual member and not on the area loaded panel.

Notes

The nodal coordinates can be useful when determining your start point and the length and width to the end point of the line load. To switch them on:

•From the Nodes and Coordinates category in the toolbar, enable node coordinates in the X and Z directions

When applying a load intensity, the specified load will apply to the group number specified under the alternate load groups area

•For example, if you set the load group letter denomination fields to D, L, A, G, and you have set the corresponding alternate load group number to “Load Group D3 L3” (i.e. load group number 3), the load intensity values will apply to D3, L3, A3, G3 only