Distributed Loads

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vicky
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2019 1:12 pm

Distributed Loads

Post by vicky » Mon Sep 09, 2019 1:21 pm

Dear all,
In the STKO pre-processor, when defining a new Condition, under Model->Loads->Force, I see items such as "Face Force" that are not available in OpenSEES. How do they work exactly?
Thank you

MassimoPetracca
Posts: 37
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2019 11:10 am

Re: Distributed Loads

Post by MassimoPetracca » Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:54 pm

Dear Vicky,

You are right, objects such as FaceForce, EdgeForce, etc... do not have a direct counterpart in OpenSEES. They are STKO automations that simplify the way you can build your model.

For example, if you want to apply a distributed pressure of 10 F/L^2 on a curved shell, acting normal to its plane, in OpenSEES you would need to compute the equivalent nodal load vectors and write them in a load pattern using the load command.

In STKO, instead, you can use the FaceForce Condition, where you specify the distributed pressure vector in local coordinates (px = 0, py = 0, pz = 10). Then STKO will automatically compute the lumped nodal forces and will write them in the TCL file using the load command.

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