Static point-load

Background

Represent a vector that is applied on a Node object. This force is represented by a magnitude and a direction. The Load object created in this manner is assembled directly to the global force vector, thus its direction must coincide with the global coordinate system.

REFERENCE:

• Bathe K. Jurgen, "Finite Element Procedures", Chapter 4: pages 161-166, Table 4.3, Prentice-Hall, 1996.

Pre-Analysis

The python Pre-Analysis in the 01-Pre_Process/Method/Attach.py file provides with an interface to create a STATIC POINT LOAD. For example, to create a Static point-load using json format, use:

• addLoad(tag, name='PointLoad', attributes):

  • tag : The identifier of this load, i.e., tag > -1
  • name : The Seismo-VLAB load class name, in this case: 'PointLoad'.
  • attributes : Specific properties for the PointLoad, for example
    • 'fun': The function identifier
    • 'list': The identifier of the nodes where this load acts upon
    • 'type': The type of load, in this case: 'Concentrated'.

  Example

  A STATIC POINT LOAD can be defined using the python interface as follows:
  SVL.addLoad(tag=1, name='PointLoad', attributes={'fun': 1, 'type': 'Constant', 'list': [1]})

The information required to define the magnitude and direction of this Load is provided in the attributes['fun'] identifier. Thus, to create a CONSTANT FUNCTION using the json format, use:

• addFunction(tag, name, attributes):

  • tag : The identifier of this function, i.e., tag > -1
  • name : The Seismo-VLAB function class name, in this case 'Constant'.
  • attributes : The constant function information
    • 'dir' : The direction of the acting function
    • 'mag' : The magnitude of the load

  Example

  A CONSTANT FUNCTION can be defined using the python interface as follows:
  SVL.addFunction(tag=1, name='Constant', attributes={'mag': 10.00, 'dir': [0.0, 0.0, -1.0]})
  

Application
Please refer to the D01-ST_Lin_2DBernoulli_Elastic_Frame2.py file located at 03-Validations/01-Debugging/ to see an example on how a STATIC POINT LOAD and its CONSTANT FUNCTION are defined.

On the contrary, the 01-Pre_Process/Method/Remove.py file provides with an interface to depopulate the Entities dictionary. For example, to remove an already define Load, use:

• delLoad(tag):
  • tag : The identifier of the load to be removed, i.e., tag > -1

Now, to remove a already defined function, use:

• delFunction(tag):
  • tag : The identifier of the function to be removed, i.e., tag > -1

Run-Analysis

The C++ Run-Analysis in the 02-Run_Process/05-Loads/Load.cpp file provides the class implementation. A STATIC POINT LOAD is defined inside the "Loads" json field indicating its "Tag" as follows,

• {
      "Loads": {
          "Tag": {
              "name" : "POINTLOAD",
              "attributes": {
                  "name": "CONSTANT",
                  "type": "CONCENTRATED",
                  "mag": double,
                  "dir": [ ],
                  "list": [ ]
              }
          }
      }
  }
  

  Variable	Description
  Tag	Unique load object identifier.
  mag	Magnitude/intensity of the applied force, traction or body load.
  dir	Vector containing the direction of the force.
  list	List of Node identifiers that share this load.

  
  

  Attention

  The dimensions in dir must be consistent with the number of degree-of-freedom of that Node.

  Example

  A 3D STATIC POINT LOAD applied downwards on node 2 whose intensities is 0.75 N:
  { "Loads": { "1": { "name" : "POINTLOAD", "attributes": { "name": "CONSTANT", "type": "CONCENTRATED", "mag": 0.75, "dir": [0.000, 0.000, -1.000], "list": [2] } } } }