Load Case Data - Linear Direct Integration History

When the Load Case Type is set to Time History and the Subtype to Linear Direct Integration, use the form to view and change the definition of a linear direct-integration time-history load case. A direct-integration time-history solves equations for the entire structure at each time step, as compared with a modal time-history load case, which uses the method of mode superposition.

Note: Please refer to the Load Case Data Form topic for information related to the Load Case Name edit box, the Load Case Type and Load Case Subtype drop-down lists, and the Notes Modify/Show and Design buttons.

P-Delta/Nonlinear Stiffness options.
- Use Preset P-Delta Settings option. Click the Modify/Show button to access the Preset P-Delta Options form. Use that form to set the P-Delta analysis parameters.
- Use Nonlinear Case (Loads at End of Case NOT Included) option. Choose to start at the end of a nonlinear load case. Use the drop-down list to select the load case.
Loads Applied area. Loads from one or more load patterns or built-in acceleration loads may be applied, each scaled by the same or different time functions. All user-specified loads will be added and applied in combination.
- Load Type drop-down list. Choose whether the load to be applied is a load pattern or a built-in acceleration load.
- Load Name drop-down list. Choose the load pattern name, or the direction of ground acceleration, depending on the type of load. For acceleration loads, choose the direction U1, U2, or U3. See Applying Acceleration Loads for more information.
- Function drop-down list. Select the name of a previously defined time-history function that specifies the magnitude of the load as a function of time.
- Scale Factor edit box. Enter a scale factor that multiplies the load before adding it to other loads applied. For acceleration loads, the scale factor has units of acceleration, and should be consistent with the length units currently in use. For load cases, the scale factor is unitless.
- Show Advanced Load Parameters check box. Check this box to reveal the following additional columns in the Load Applied table.
- - Time Factor edit box. Use this parameter to specify a positive factor that multiplies the time scale of the time-history function. The default value is one, which does not change the function. This should normally be used for ground-motion records. However, modifying the time scale can be useful, for example, to change the period of sinusoidal loads, or to increase or decrease the time to apply ramp or pulse loads.
  - Arrival Time edit box. The arrival time specifies when the time function starts during the analysis. A positive value delays the start of the function. If the arrival time is negative, the program ignores that portion of the function occurring before the analysis begins.
  - Coordinate System drop-down list. Specify a coordinate system in which the acceleration directions are measured. See Applying Acceleration Loads for more information.
  - Angle edit box. Specify an angle by which U1 and U2 are rotated from UX and UY in the specified coordinate system. See Applying Acceleration Loads for more information.
- Add button. To add a load to the set of applied loads, enter the load type, load name, and other parameters at the top of the table, then the click Add button.
- Delete button. To remove a load from the set of applied loads, click on the load in the table to select it, then click the Delete button.
Number of Output Time Steps edit box and Output Time Step Size edit box. Accept the default or enter a value for the number of output time steps and the size of the output time step. The total time of the analysis is the number of output time steps multiplied by the output time-step size. Results will be saved only at time zero and the subsequent output time steps, although the analysis will compute intermediate results at every time step of every applied-load time-history function.
Proportional Damping display box. This display box shows the type of damping being applied. Click the Modify/Show button to access the Mass and Stiffness Proportional Damping form to specify the damping to use for the analysis.
Time Integration display box. This display box shows the analysis method to be applied to time integration. Click the Modify/Show button to access the Time Integration Parameters form and specify the Time Integration Parameters to use for the analysis.