FE Line Loads [FEA]

FE line loads apply distributed or concentrated loads directly to line (beam/truss) elements. These loads are defined in either the element's local coordinate system or the global system and are automatically converted to equivalent nodal forces during analysis.

Point Load

A concentrated load applied at a specific location along the element.

Load Case: The analysis case (load case) to which this point load belongs.

Element: The line element (FELine) to which the point load is applied.

System: The coordinate system for the load direction. Select Global to define the load in global XYZ directions, or Local to define it in the element's local coordinate system (x along the element axis, y and z perpendicular).

Direction: The direction in which the force and moment act (e.g., X, Y, or Z of the selected coordinate system).

Point Force Magnitude: The magnitude of the concentrated force applied at the specified location. Positive values act in the positive direction of the selected axis.

Point Moment Magnitude: The magnitude of the concentrated moment applied at the specified location. Follows the right-hand rule for sign convention.

Point Load Location (x/L): The position of the point load along the element, expressed as a fraction of the element length (0 = Node 1 end, 1 = Node 2 end). For example, 0.5 applies the load at mid-span.

Linear Load

A distributed load that varies linearly between two points along the element. Uniform loads are a special case where the start and end magnitudes are equal.

Load Case: The analysis case (load case) to which this distributed load belongs.

Elemenet: The line element (FELine) to which the distributed load is applied.

System: The coordinate system for the load direction. Select Global to define the load in global XYZ directions, or Local to define it in the element's local coordinate system.

Direction: The direction in which the distributed force and moment act (e.g., X, Y, or Z of the selected coordinate system).

Force Magnitude at Start: The intensity of the distributed force at the start of the loaded region (force per unit length). For a uniform load, set this equal to the end magnitude.

Force Magnitude at End: The intensity of the distributed force at the end of the loaded region (force per unit length). For a uniform load, set this equal to the start magnitude.

Moment Magnitude at Start: The intensity of the distributed moment at the start of the loaded region (moment per unit length).

Moment Magnitude at End: The intensity of the distributed moment at the end of the loaded region (moment per unit length).

Linear Load Start Location (x/L): The starting position of the distributed load along the element, expressed as a fraction of the element length (0 = Node 1 end, 1 = Node 2 end).

Linear Load End Location (x/L): The ending position of the distributed load along the element, expressed as a fraction of the element length. For a load over the full span, use Start = 0 and End = 1.