Edit Loads

The Edit Distributed Load option allows you to change the magnitude or orientation of distributed loads which have been added to the model (i.e. Uniform, Triangular or Ponded Water loads).

To edit distributed loads:

1. Select Edit Distributed Load from the toolbar or the Distributed Loads sub-menu of the Loading menu.
2. Use the mouse to select the load(s) that you wish to modify. NOTE: you may select multiple loads to edit.
3. Right click the mouse and select Done Selection, or press Enter.
4. You will see the Edit Distributed Load dialog which will display the current orientation and magnitude parameters which define the selected load(s). If you have selected multiple loads, see the note below for more information.
5. In the dialog, you may edit the magnitude, orientation or stage factor parameters. You can use the Flip angle 180 degrees option, if you need to reverse the direction of the load (see below for details).
6. select [OK] when the desired parameters have been entered. The new load parameters will be in effect for all selected loads.

Note: you cannot edit the location or extent of a distributed load after it has been added to a model. If you need to change the location of a load, you will have to add a new load (and delete the old one, if necessary).

Flip angle 180 degrees

After adding a distributed load, the orientation of the load may sometimes be opposite from the intended direction (i.e. 180 degrees off). For example, if you have used the Normal to Boundary, Vertical or Horizontal orientation options, the default orientation chosen by RS2 may be opposite to the intended direction. If this occurs, you can use the Edit Distributed Load option and select the Flip angle 180 degrees check box in the Edit Distributed Load dialog (Step 5). The load orientation will then be reversed by 180 degrees.

Note: the Flip angle 180 degrees option cannot be used if the load orientation is defined with the Angle from Horizontal option. In this case, you must simply enter the correct angle (add or subtract 180 degrees).

Editing Multiple Loads

You can simultaneously select and edit multiple distributed loads with the Edit Distributed Load option. This is particularly useful if you have applied a Uniform load on multiple boundary segments (e.g. around an Excavation boundary), and you wish to change the magnitude on all segments.

However, if you select multiple loads and the loads have different magnitudes or are of different types (e.g. Uniform and Triangular), only the properties of the last selected load will be displayed in the Edit Distributed Load dialog. In this case, if you edit the load parameters and select OK in the dialog, these parameters will be applied to all selected loads. Therefore, if you wish to edit multiple loads and apply different properties to each, the loads must be edited individually.

Right Click Shortcut

The Edit Distributed Load option is also available as a convenient right click shortcut, for individual loads. To do this:

• Click the RIGHT mouse button on an existing distributed load (you can click anywhere on the arrows representing the load, but you cannot click on the numbers showing the load magnitude)
• The load will be "selected" and a popup menu will appear. Select Edit Distributed Load from the popup menu.
• Then follow steps 4 to 6 above, to modify the load magnitude and / or orientation.

NOTE: loads can only be edited individually with the right-click shortcut. You cannot simultaneously select and edit multiple loads with the right-click shortcut.