Frame Loads - Points

Form: Frame Point Loads

Concentrated forces and moments can be assigned along the length of frame objects. The loads may be as simple or as complicated as required.

Select one or more frame objects to be assigned loads
Use the Assign menu > Frame Loads > Point command to access the Frame Point Loads form.
- Load Pattern Name drop-down list. Choose the load pattern to which the point loads are 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 pattern case that will then be available in the drop-down list.
- Units drop-down list. Choose the units to be used.
- Load Type and Direction.
- - Load Type options. Specify the type of load as Force or Moment.
  - 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.

- Point Loads. Enter up to four locations and the corresponding load values in the proper units. If you need more than four locations, perform more assignment operations, using the Add to Existing Loads option.
- - Relative Distance from End-I or Absolute Distance from End-I. Specify that the distance from End I is relative or absolute for the location(s) specified in the Point Loads area of the form.
- Options. Specify how the load will be applied.
- - Add to Existing Loads: Adds the specified point load to the frame object. If one or more point load assignments have already been made, this option increases the existing load, assuming a positive load is being specified.
  - Replace Existing Loads: Replaces the currently specified point load, if any, with the new load. If no assignment exists, the new assignment is still made. This is the default option.
  - Delete Existing Loads: Deletes any and all point load assignments made to the selected object(s). When this option is selected, the items in the Load Type and Direction and Point Loads areas of the form are ignored when the OK button is clicked.

Note that the default option is Replace and that the program defaults to this every time the form is opened.

Example: Assignment of point frame loads is demonstrated in Problem P and Problem W.