Select Add Circular
Load 
from the toolbar or the Loads
menu.
You will see the Define Load dialog for circular loads. Enter the following information:
A circular load can be defined with the Add Circular Load option. The magnitude of a circular load is uniform, and the load application can be staged.
To add a circular load:
Select Add Circular
Load from the toolbar or the Loads
menu.
You will see the Define Load dialog for circular loads. Enter the following information:
Circle Properties (radius)
Load Properties (magnitude, depth, staging information)
Display Properties (optional)
See below for details about the input parameters. When you are finished entering the load information, select OK.
You will now be prompted to define the location of the circular load in the Plan View. The location of a circular load is defined by entering the x,y coordinates of the center of the circle. This can be entered graphically with the mouse, by clicking at the desired location in the Plan View. Or you can use the keyboard to type in the x,y coordinates in the prompt line.
As soon as the load location has been entered, the load will be added to the model, and displayed in both the Plan View and 3D View.
Circular load in 3D view
The parameters which define a circular load are described below.
Circle Properties
Enter the circle Radius in the Define Load dialog.
Load Magnitude
Load magnitude is defined in terms of force / area (i.e. distributed load). NOTE:
When you use the Add Circular Load option, only a uniform load magnitude can be defined.
If you require a variable load magnitude over a circular area, use the Add Polygonal Load option to define the load, rather than the Add Circular Load option.
If your model uses multiple stages, the load can be applied at any stage, or applied in increments at different stages, as described in the Load Staging section below.
Load Depth
A load can be applied on the ground surface or at any depth below the ground surface.
To apply a load on the ground surface, enter Depth = 0.
To apply a load at some depth below the ground surface, enter the Depth from ground surface as a positive number.
If your model uses multiple stages, the depth of the load can be staged, as described below.
NOTE: if you apply a load at some depth below the ground surface, the soil above the load depth is NOT assumed to be excavated, it is assumed that the soil layers remain in place. If you wish to define loading within an excavation, then you must use the Add Excavation option to define an excavation, and then define the loading. See the Add Excavation topic for details.
Load Staging
If your model uses multiple stages, the load can be applied at any stage, or applied in increments at different stages using the Advanced Staging option.
Installation Stage
If you wish to apply a load at a particular stage of a multi-stage model, then use the Installation Stage option to select the desired Installation Stage.
Advanced Staging
For more complex load staging, the Advanced Staging option allows you to stage the magnitude and depth of the loading. To use the Advanced Staging option:
Select the Advanced Staging checkbox. The dialog will expand, allowing you to enter a Load Factor and Depth for each stage.
The Load Factor is a multiplying factor for the Load Magnitude. For example:
If you want to double the load magnitude at a given stage, enter Load Factor = 2 for that stage.
If the load does not exist at a given stage, enter Load Factor = 0.
If you want the original load magnitude, enter Load Factor = 1.
The Depth can be staged by entering the Depth of the load application at each stage. The actual depth from ground surface is entered, NOT a factor. The depth is entered as a positive number. If you are modeling an excavation, see the note above regarding Load Depth and the Add Excavation option.
If your load is staged, it is a good idea to select the Stage Tabs, after adding the load, to check that the load is applied at the correct stage(s), and that the magnitudes and depths are correct. If not, then use the Edit Load Properties option, and make sure that the correct values have been applied at the correct stages.
Display Properties
The appearance of a load can be customized by selecting the Display Properties button in the Define Load dialog. You will see the Load Display Properties dialog, in which you can define:
Label - this is an optional text label / name, which can be used to identify the load, and will appear in the Info Viewer listing and Data Tips.
Outline / Fill / Hatch - customize the colours / hatch pattern used to display the load.
Height - the load Height option allows you to define a constant height for the load. This is for display purposes only, and has no effect on the load magnitude or analysis. If you do not define the load Height, an apparent load height is automatically determined based on the load magnitude.
NOTE: Load Display Properties can be customized for each individual load. Load Display Properties can also be accessed by right-clicking on a load, and selecting Display Properties from the popup menu.