Defining Loads

Loads are applied to geometric parts (points, lines, surfaces and bodies) and may be defined in a number of ways:

• as concentrated loads applied to nodes,
• as distributed loads applied to elements,
• as prescribed displacements applied to nodes,
• as a gravity load, centrifugal load or heat source,
• as temperatures to nodes,
• and as convection boundary conditions.

The variation of the load over the part may be controlled with space curves and the application of the load may be restricted with the use of load masks. In addition a wide range of time dependent load variation may be specified.