Hydrostatic Pressure Loads

Enter the hydrostatic pressure (fluid potential) loads at the edges or faces of Plate, Plane Stress, Plane Strain or Solid Elements.

The hydrostatic pressure loads are calculated at each corner node of the elements. The point pressure is obtained by multiplying the distance from the given surface of the fluid by the density of the fluid.

Pressure loads due to the fluid potential at the connection nodes of plate elements

From the Main Menu select Load > Static Load > Pressure Load > Hydrostatic Pressure Loads.

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 that will include the entered Hydrostatic Pressure Loads Data. Select "Default", if a Group assignment is unnecessary. Click to the right to add, modify or delete Load Groups.

Options

Add: Enter new or additional hydrostatic pressures

Replace: Replace previously entered hydrostatic pressures

Delete: Delete previously entered hydrostatic pressures

Element Type

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

Plate: plate element

Selection: Select loaded objects by either nodes or elements

Direction

Local x: Pressure loads applied in the element local x-direction

Local y: Pressure loads applied in the element local y-direction

Local z: Pressure loads applied in the element local z-direction

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

Plane Strain: plane strain element

Axisymmetric: axisymmetric element

Pressure Edge: Refer to the figure to select the edge numbers to be loaded.

8 Nodes Solid: 8 node solid element

6 Nodes Solid: 6 node solid element

4 Nodes Solid: 4 node solid element

Pressure Face: Refer to the figure to select the face number to be loaded.

Direction

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

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

The application conditions for hydrostatic pressure loads are as follows:

Hydrostatic Pressure = P0 + g(H - h)

Where, H > h (position of the element connection nodes)

Gradient Direction: Assign the gradient direction of the hydraulic potential - increasing direction from the fluid surface

Global ( -X )

Global ( -Y )

Global ( -Z )

Reference Level(H): Reference level for the pressure due to the hydraulic potential of fluids (enter with the mouse or keyboard)

Constant Intensity(P0): Pressure acting on the fluid surface

Gradient Intensity(g): Specific weight of fluid

Lateral soil pressure with or without ground water pressure can be applied using this functionality.

Note
When lateral soil pressure is entered as Hydrostatic Pressure Loads, Element Type must be Plate, and the structure must be divided into a reasonable number of elements to properly reflect its flexural behavior.

Direction represents the direction of acting force. Gradient Direction is generally selected in the direction of gravity (Global-Z).

Constant Intensity (Po) represents surcharge (soil overburden), which is subject to soil pressure coefficient. Gradient Intensity (g) is also obtained by applying the soil pressure coefficient. Depending on the presence of ground water, the following is entered:

1) Only soil is present without ground water

Soil: g = soil pressure coefficient * unit density of soil

2) To consider ground water (separately enter values for soil and water)

Soil: g = soil pressure coefficient * unit density of soil under water

Water: g = unit density of water

(In case of water, Reference level (H) locates the level of ground water.)