Point and Distributed Loads |
 
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Point and Distributed Loads |
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In addition to the standard loading described in preceding sections (e.g. wave, current etc.), Flexcom also provides a range to other useful options for applying loads to a model. This section outlines point and distributed loading options.
Point and distributed loads are largely self-explanatory. Point loads are specified in terms of a single point of application (node), direction and magnitude. Uniformly distributed loads are specified in terms of an area of application (typically a group of consecutive elements, defined in terms of a start element and an end element). The magnitude of the loading may be constant or time-dependent. Both point and distributed loads are input as components in the global coordinate directions – this means that a force oblique to the coordinate axes is specified as three load components.
•*LOAD is used to define arbitrary loading. Specifically, the TYPE=CONSTANT input is used to define point loads, while the TYPE=DISTRIBUTED input is used to define distributed loads.