Mass (Load)
| Property | Value |
| Default Short Command | LMASS |
| Icon |  |
For dynamic, vibration shape and seismic effect calculations (especially for frame structures), masses can be defined optionally as point loads or automatic conversion of load cases to mass.
 | Masses are not participants of load cases, load combinations and load groups. |
Concentrated Mass
Definition steps
- Start the Mass command from
tabmenu. - Set the mass value according to the current unit (that can be set at Settings > Units).
- Place the mass just by clicking in the required point.
The mass will be displayed on the Masses object layer assigned in green color by default.
Optional steps:
- Modify the mass value with the
Properties tool of the Mass tool palette. - Set the display settings of masses (Load Display Settings).
Figure: Definition of concentrated mass
Load Case-Mass Conversion
With the 
Load case-mass conversion command of Loads tabmenu, you may convert load cases to masses by assigning factor values to them. All conversions are done just before dynamic calculation.
Typing 1 into the Factor field means that the loads (of the load case) with their original value will be converted to mass. Typing 0 value removes predefined conversion of a load case (as a result you will get the "--" symbol again).
Figure: Mass definition by conversion of loads (load cases)
The following point, line and surface force types can be converted to masses:
Plate module: force with global -Z direction: mz = -Fz/g
Wall and 
Plain Strain modules: force with global -Y direction: mx = my = -Fy/g
3D Frame and 
3D Structure modules: force with global -Z direction: mx = my = mz = -Fz/g
| Moments, support motions, thermal loads cannot be converted to masses. |