Add Polygonal Load

A general polygonal load can be defined with the Add Polygonal Load option. The load magnitude can be uniform or variable, and the load application can be staged.

To add a polygonal load:

1. Select Add Polygonal Load from the toolbar or the Loads menu.

2. In the Plan View, enter the vertices of the polygon as described in Entering Coordinates.

3. A load polygon must be closed. To close the polygon boundary, after all vertices are entered, right-click and select Close, or you can type c and Enter in the prompt line. This automatically and correctly closes the polygon, and saves you the trouble of having to re-enter the first vertex to complete the boundary. If the Snap option is activated, you can also close a polygon by snapping to the first vertex after all other vertices are entered.

4. After the polygon is closed, you will see the Define Load dialog for polygonal loads. Enter the following information:

• Load Properties (magnitude, depth, staging information)

• Display Properties (optional)

See below for details about the input parameters.

5. When you are finished entering the load information, select OK. The load will be added to the model, and displayed in both the Plan View and 3D View.

Polygonal loads in 3D view

The parameters which define a polygonal load are described below.

Load Magnitude

Load magnitude is defined in terms of force / area (i.e. distributed load). You can define a uniform or variable load magnitude.

Uniform Magnitude

To define a uniform load magnitude, enter the magnitude (force per unit area) in the Magnitude edit box. This will define a load with a uniform magnitude over the area of the polygon.

Variable Magnitude

To define a load magnitude which varies over the area of the polygon, select the Variable checkbox and select the Define button. You will see a dialog which allows you to define the load magnitude at each vertex of the polygon.

NOTE: the load magnitude at each vertex is defined as a distributed load (i.e. force / area). You are NOT defining point loads, you are defining the magnitude of the distributed load, at each vertex. It is up to the user to determine the appropriate magnitude at each point, which correctly models the desired load distribution.

The load distribution over the area of the polygon is obtained by interpolation using the load magnitudes at the vertices.

Variable load magnitude over a polygonal area

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:

1. Select the Advanced Staging checkbox. The dialog will expand, allowing you to enter a Load Factor and Depth for each stage.

2. 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.

• NOTE: if the Load Magnitude is Variable (see above), then the Load Magnitude at each vertex of the load will be multiplied by the Load Factor.

3. 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.