Generating Loads
During the modeling step in Advance Design, you can apply different types of actions to the elements of your structure. These actions include applying loads, masses, and imposed displacements.
Loads can be grouped into load cases, which represent different loading scenarios. For example, you may have load cases for point loads, linear loads, planar loads, or imposed displacements. These load cases can be calculated individually or combined to simulate various loading conditions. To make it easier to manage similar load cases, they are grouped into case families.
To apply loads and actions on your structure elements, you need to create the corresponding case families and load cases.
Creating the structure load case families
When you create a load case family, Advance Design automatically generates a specific load case for you. However, you can also create additional load cases in the same load case family if needed.
Creating load cases
To define loads on your structure, you can either generate them or model them manually. Before creating loads or imposed displacements, it's important to specify the corresponding load case.
For a detailed exploration of creating load cases, refer to the dedicated page.
Creating loads
Loads represent forces applied to the elements of your structure. These loads are grouped into load cases, which are associated with specific case families. Before creating a load, make sure you have generated a case family and the corresponding load case.
For a detailed exploration of creating loads, refer to the dedicated page.
Grouping loads in load cases
You can easily organize and manage your loads by referring to the Project Browser in Advance Design. Under the Loading category, you will find the different case families and their corresponding load cases.
For a detailed exploration of grouping loads in load cases, refer to the dedicated page.
Loading category in Project Browser
- A: Case families - Group load cases with similar physical characteristics. Each family may contain certain types of load cases. Advance Design provides the following load case families: Dead Loads, Live Loads, Snow, Wind, Seism, Temperatures, Accidental Loads, Dynamic Temporary Loads, Traffic loads, Others, Pushover Loads, and Crane.
- B: Load cases - Group one or several loads applied on the structure elements. Similar load cases are organized into case families. There are 5 types of load cases: self-weight, static, seismic, thermal and dynamic temporal.
- C: Loads - Represent forces applied to the structure elements. The loads (i.e., point, linear or planar) can be grouped in load cases that correspond to different loading scenarios and can be calculated individually or combined.
Loads display
Advance Design provides several commands that allow you to control how loads are displayed in the graphic area. This feature gives you the flexibility to customize the load display according to your preferences.
You can define the parameters of loads, load cases, and case families in the properties window. Additionally, managing loadings is made easier with the context menu commands available in the Project Browser.
For a detailed exploration of loads display, refer to the dedicated page.
Automatic Climatic Loads Generator
Modeling and defining the values of climatic loads can be time-consuming and prone to errors. To simplify this process and ensure more accurate results, Advance Design offers an automated tool - Climatic Loads Generator.
The Advance Design 3D Climatic Loads Generator is a powerful feature that enables you to automatically generate climatic loads on various structural elements such as portal frames, parapet walls, lattice structures, scaffolding elements, buildings with dominant facades, panels, horizontal roofs, roofs with two slopes, isolated roofs, protruding roofs, roofs with awnings, and more.
By using this tool, you can save a significant amount of time by:
- Selecting the appropriate climatic standard;
- Generating load areas on 3D structures;
- Creating load case families for snow or/and wind and configuring the advanced properties (if necessary).
For a detailed exploration of generating climatic loads, refer to the dedicated page.
Advance Design provides a robust framework for applying various types of actions to structural elements. The flexibility to categorize loads into distinct load cases and organize them into case families offers unparalleled control over the simulation of diverse loading scenarios.
Mastering load generation in Advance Design involves not only the application of loads but also strategic organization, efficient display customization, and the utilization of advanced automation tools. The software's comprehensive approach empowers you to navigate the complexities of structural analysis with precision and ease, ensuring accurate and efficient results.