Area Loads - Uniform (Shell)

Form: Area Uniform Loads

Uniform load is used to apply uniformly distributed forces to the mid surfaces of area objects. The direction of the loading may be specified in a fixed coordinate system (global or user-defined system) or in the object local coordinate system.

Select one or more area objects to which to assign the uniform load.
Click on the Assign menu > Area Loads > Uniform (Shell) command to access the Area Uniform Loads form.
- Load Pattern Name drop-down list. Select the load pattern to which the uniform load is being added. Alternatively, click the + (plus symbol) beside the drop-down list to access the Define Load Patterns form; use the form to define a load pattern that will then be available in the drop-down list.
- Units drop-down list. Verify that the units are appropriate for specifying the load. Use the drop-down list to change them, if necessary.
- Uniform Load options.
- - Load edit box. Specify the load value as forces per unit area in the Load edit box.
  - Coord System drop-down list. Select the coordinate system from the Coord System drop-down list.
  - Direction drop-down list. Select the load direction from the Direction drop-down list.

Note: The Gravity direction is taken to be in the negative Global Z direction. To enter a load in the gravity direction, enter a positive number if the direction is set to Gravity and a negative number if the direction is set to Global Z.

- Options. Specify how the load is to be applied.
- - Add to Existing Loads: Adds the specified uniform load to the area object. If one or more uniform load assignments have already been made, this option increases the uniform load, assuming that a positive load is being specified.
  - Replace Existing Loads: Replaces the currently specified uniform load if any, with the new load. If no assignment has been made, the new assignment is still made. This is the default option.
  - Delete Existing Loads: Deletes any and all uniform load assignments made to the selected area object(s). When this option is selected, the items in the Uniform Load area of the form are ignored when the OK button is clicked.
- Click the OK button.

The window will refresh with a graphical representation of the load assigned on the selected members. If necessary, use the Assign menu > Clear Assigns command to remove the display of the assigned load.

Example: Assignment of uniform loads is demonstrated in Problem C, Problem O, and Problem U.