Pressure Loads

Apply pressure loads to the faces or edges of plate, plane stress, plane strain, axisymmetric or solid elements. Modify or delete previously entered loads.

The pressure loads are entered as either a uniform pressure or a linearly distributed pressure. The pressure is then converted into equivalent nodal forces in the program.

The pressure loads for plate or plain stress elements are entered with respect to the GCS or the element local coordinate system. The direction of the loading applied to the faces coincides with an axis of the given coordinate system. In the case of pressure loads applied to the edges, the loading directions are perpendicular to the edges in the plane of elements. Pressure loads acting towards the elements retain the positive sign (+). Pressure loads acting on the edges are expressed as loads per unit length.

The pressure loads acting on the edges of plane strain and axisymmetric elements are entered perpendicular to the edges. The positive direction (+) refers to loadings applied towards the element edges. In addition, the pressure area is obtained by multiplying the element length by the thickness. Again, the loading is applied per unit length.

The direction of pressure loads applied to solid elements is perpendicular to the faces. The positive direction (+) refers to loadings applied towards the element faces. The loading direction away from the faces retains the negative sign (-).

 

 (a) Pressure loads applied normally to the edges of plate, plane stress, plane strain and axisymmetric elements

 

 (b) Pressure loads acting on a face of a plate and plane stress elements

 

 (c) Pressure loads applied normally to the faces of a solid element

<Figure 1>  Pressure loads applied on each element

From the Main Menu select Load > Pressure Loads.

Select Static Loads > Pressure Loads in the Menu tab of the Tree Menu.

Load Case Name

Assign the load case name. Click to the right to enter, additional load cases and modify or delete existing load cases.

 

Load Group Name

Select the desire Load Group Name. Click to the right to enter additional load group names and modify or delete existing load group names.

 

Options

Add: To enter new or additional pressure loads

Replace: To replace previously entered pressure loads

Delete: To delete previously entered pressure loads

 

Element Type

Select the type of elements to be subjected to pressure loads. Refer to the figure displayed to assign the loading direction and the loaded side(s).

Plate/Plane Stress: plate & plane element

Face: out-of-plain

Edge: in-plain

Solid (Face): solid element

Plane Strain (Edge): plane strain element

Axisymmetric (Edge): axisymmetric element

 

Pressure on Plate (Plane Strain, Axisymmetric, Solid Faces)

Specify the locations and directions of the pressure loads by different element types.

Selection
Specify the method of assign the locations of pressure loads

Node: specify nodes (when loads are applied to edges or if solid elements)

Element: specify elements

Pressure Edge
Specify the edges, which pressure loads are to be applied. The specified edge is displayed by a dotted line.

Direction

Normal: Pressure loads applied normally to the face of solid elements

Local x: ECS x-direction of plate or plane stress elements

Local y: ECS y-direction of plate or plane stress elements

Local z: ECS z-direction of plate or plane stress elements

Global X: Pressure loads applied in GCS X-direction

Global Y: Pressure loads applied in GCS Y-direction

Global Z: Pressure loads applied in GCS Z-direction

Vector: Pressure loads are applied in the direction defined by a vector.
 

Pressure Face
In the case of solid elements, specify the face to apply pressure loads. The specified face is displyed by dotted lines.

Direction

Local x: ECS x-direction of plate or plane stress elements

Local y: ECS y-direction of plate or plane stress elements

Local z: ECS z-direction of plate or plane stress elements

Global X: Pressure loads applied in GCS X-direction

Global Y: Pressure loads applied in GCS Y-direction

Global Z: Pressure loads applied in GCS Z-direction

Vector: Pressure loads are applied in the direction defined by a vector.
 

Projection
When the pressure loads are applied to plate or solid elements in the direction of 'Global X, Y or Z', select whether or not to project the loads on a plane perpendicular to the loading direction.

Yes: project the pressure loads

No: the pressure loads are applied along the entire face

 

Loads

Select if the loads are uniformly distributed or linearly varying. Enter the pressure load values.

Uniform: when the pressure loads are uniformly distributed

Linear: when the pressure loads vary linearly

P1, P2, P3, P4: Pressure load values at faces or edges