1D element loads

The beam loading modules are used to specify the load on all 1D elements. However, not all loads can be applied to all element types. The tables below indicates how loads are handled depending on the element type.

The beam loading is applied in four tables in GSA. These are further broken down here as:

Beam loads

• Point force
• Point moment
• Distributed force – uniform, linearly varying, patch, trilinear
• Distributed moment

Prestress

• Prestress – prestress force
• Initial strain
• Lack of fit
• Tendon – tendon prestress
• Tendon with offset

Distortions

• Translational distortion
• Rotational distortion

Thermal

• Uniform thermal
• Thermal gradient

Beam elements

There are no restrictions on beam elements. All load options apply to beams.

Bar elements

	Display in graphics	Result available	Pre-analysis warning	Pre-analysis error	Ignored by solver
Point force	✓	✓
Point moment	✓	✓
Distributed force	✓	✓
Distributed moment	✓	✓
Prestress	✓	✓
Initial strain	✓	✓
Lack of fit	✓	✓
Tendon	✓				✓
Tendon with offset	✓			✓
Translational distortion	✓	✓		if not x
Rotational distortion	✓			✓
Uniform thermal	✓	✓
Thermal gradient	✓			✓

Rod elements

	Display in graphics	Result available	Pre-analysis warning	Pre-analysis error	Ignored by solver
Point force	✓	✓
Point moment	✓	✓
Distributed force	✓	✓
Distributed moment	✓	✓
Prestress	✓	✓
Initial strain	✓	✓
Lack of fit	✓	✓
Tendon	✓				✓
Tendon with offset	✓			✓
Translational distortion	✓	✓		if not x
Rotational distortion	✓	✓		if not xx
Uniform thermal	✓	✓
Thermal gradient	✓			✓

Tie / strut elements

	Display in graphics	Result available	Pre-analysis warning	Pre-analysis error	Ignored by solver
Point force	✓	✓
Point moment	✓	✓
Distributed force	✓	✓
Distributed moment	✓	✓
Prestress	✓	✓
Initial strain	✓		✓	if not tension/compression
Lack of fit	✓		✓	if not tension/compression
Tendon	✓				✓
Tendon with offset	✓			✓
Translational distortion	✓	✓		if not x
Rotational distortion	✓	✓		if not xx
Uniform thermal	✓	✓
Thermal gradient	✓			✓

Cable elements

	Display in graphics	Result available	Pre-analysis warning	Pre-analysis error	Ignored by solver
Point force			✓		✓
Point moment			✓		✓
Distributed force	✓		✓		✓
Distributed moment	✓		✓		✓
Prestress	✓	✓
Initial strain	✓	✓
Lack of fit	✓	✓
Tendon	✓	✓
Tendon with offset	✓			✓
Translational distortion			✓		✓
Rotational distortion			✓		✓
Uniform thermal	✓	✓
Thermal gradient	✓			✓	✓

Link elements

	Display in graphics	Result available	Pre-analysis warning	Pre-analysis error	Ignored by solver
Point force	✓	✓
Point moment	✓	✓
Distributed force	✓	✓
Distributed moment	✓	✓
Prestress			✓		✓
Initial strain			✓		✓
Lack of fit			✓		✓
Tendon			✓		✓
Tendon with offset			✓		✓
Translational distortion			✓		✓
Rotational distortion			✓		✓
Uniform thermal			✓		✓
Thermal gradient			✓		✓

Spring / damper elements

	Display in graphics	Result available	Pre-analysis warning	Pre-analysis error	Ignored by solver
Point force			✓		✓
Point moment			✓		✓
Distributed force			✓		✓
Distributed moment			✓		✓
Prestress			✓		✓
Initial strain			✓		✓
Lack of fit			✓		✓
Tendon			✓		✓
Tendon with offset			✓		✓
Translational distortion			✓		✓
Rotational distortion			✓		✓
Uniform thermal			✓		✓
Thermal gradient			✓		✓