Support motion (Load)

Predefined displacement (motion and/or rotation depending on the current FEM-Design module) can be assigned to point, line and surface supports.

Only the same type support motion can be assigned to a support.

Support motion load type	Support type	Default Short Command
Point support motion load	Point support  Point support group	LSUP
Line support motion load	Line support  Line support group	LSUL
Surface support motion load	Surface support group	LSUS

Table: Support motion load types and their proper support types

If a support motion load is not belonging to a support, the program sends you a warning message during calculation, that that load will be ignored in the calculations.

In  Plate module the Column and Wall elements are supports, so  Point support motion load can be assigned to Columns and  Line support motion load to Walls.

Point Support Motion

Depending on the current FEM-Design module, predefined point motion/rotation can be easily added to point supports by giving displacement direction and position. The load properties and definition tools are available on the tool palette of the  Point support motion load.

Figure: Tool palette of Point support motion load

Definition steps

1. Select the load case from the load case drop-down list from Loads tabmenu, which you would like to add the new load(s) to.
   If you have not defined a load case yet, you can also define and set at the  Default settings by giving a load case name.
   The load will be displayed on the layer assigned to the selected load case and in the layer’s color.
2. Choose the motion type:  Motion or  Rotation (FEM-Design module dependent).
3. Set the displacement values in the e or phi of the new load according to the current unit (that can be set at Settings > Units) in the tool palette or at  Default settings.
4. Define the direction of the motion or the rotation axis (FEM-Design module dependent).
5. Add the point motion to its belonging point support by clicking the support’s insertion point () or by selecting the point support ().

Optional steps:

6. Modify the load properties (the host load case and displacement values with the  Properties tool of the Point support motion load tool palette.
7. Modify the displacement direction with the editing tools (Editing Loads).
8. Set the display settings of the load (Load Display Settings).

Line Support Motion

Depending on the current FEM-Design module, predefined motion/rotation can be easily added to line supports by giving displacement direction and position. The load properties and definition tools are available on the tool palette of the  Line support motion load.

Figure: Tool palette of Line support motion load

Definition steps

1. Select the load case from the load case drop-down list from Loads tabmenu, which you would like to add the new load(s) to.
   If you have not defined a load case yet, you can also define and set at the  Default settings by giving a load case name.
   The load will be displayed on the layer assigned to the selected load case and in the layer’s color.
2. Choose the motion type:  Motion or  Rotation (FEM-Design module dependent).
3. Set the displacement values at the start and end point of the “load” action line: e1 and e2 or phi1 and phi2 according to the current unit (that can be set at Settings > Units) in the tool palette or at  Default settings. If you inactivate the arrow (   ) next to the e1 or phi1 field, you can type intensity value in e2 or phi2 different from e1 or phi1.
4. Define the direction of the motion or the rotation axis (FEM-Design module dependent).
5. Set the “direction mode”, that means the connection between applied load direction and the action line at  Default settings, if the new load will be a curved line load:
   • ​​​“Direction is constant along action line”
     The load direction set in the 4^th step will be constant along the action line.
   • “Direction varies along action line”
     The load direction will vary along the action line, so the characteristic direction set in the 4^th step will be taken into consideration in the middle point of the curved action line.
6. Add the motion to its belonging line support by selecting the line support ( ).
   Or, choose a method for the action line definition (geometry) and define the line load. Use this method, if you would like to place the load on a part of the support’s action line.
   
   With the special tool called Object’s local system ( ) you can add motion load directly to a selected component of a support/more supports just by setting the required component direction (an axis of the support’s local coordination system) in the tool palette and by the clicking on the support(s). So, with this tool, you can merge 4^th and 6^th steps to one step, if the required displacement direction is equal to the direction of the assigned support component.

Figure: Different ways of line support motion load definition

Optional steps:

7. Modify the load properties (the host load case and displacement values with the  Properties tool of the Point support motion load tool palette.
8. Modify the displacement direction with the editing tools (Editing Loads).
9. Set the display settings of the load (Load Display Settings).

Surface Support Motion

Depending on the current FEM-Design module, predefined motion can easily be added to surface support by giving displacement direction and position. The load properties and definition tools are available on the tool palette of the  Surface support motion load.

Figure: Tool palette of Surface support motion load

Definition steps

1. Select the load case from the load case drop-down list from Loads tabmenu, which you would like to add the new load(s) to.
   If you have not defined a load case yet, you can also define and set at the  Default settings by giving a load case name.
   The load will be displayed on the layer assigned to the selected load case and in the layer’s color.
2. First, define a constant predefined displacement. Set the motion value in the e1 field according to the current unit (that can be set at Settings > Units) in the tool palette or at  Default settings.
3. Define the direction of the motion (FEM-Design module dependent).
4. Add the motion to its belonging surface support by selecting the surface support ( ).
   Or, choose a method for the action surface definition (geometry) and define the surface load. Use this method, if you would like to place the load on a part of the support’s action surface.
   With the special tool called Object’s local system ( ) you can add motion load directly to a selected component of a support/more supports just by setting the required component direction (an axis of the support’s local coordination system) in the tool palette and by the clicking on the support(s). So, with this tool, you can merge 3^rd and 4^th steps to one step, if the required displacement direction is equal to the direction of the assigned support component.

Figure: Different ways of surface support motion load definition

Optional steps:

5. Use the  Variable intensity tool, if you would like to define variable surface motion assign to a surface support or a part of it. Set the new displacement values (e1, e2 and e3). If you inactivate the arrows (   ) next to the value fields, you can type different values by the e fields. Select the constant surface load that you would like to modify being variable. Give the position of the three motion values. You may click outside the surface load’s action plane too.

Figure: Variable surface support motion

6. Place a hole/opening in a surface load. Use the  Hole tool of the Surface support motion load.
7. Modify the load properties (the host load case and displacement values with the  Properties tool of the Surface support motion load tool palette.
8. Modify the displacement direction with the editing tools (Editing Loads).
9. Set the display settings of the load (Load Display Settings).