Defining Nonuniform Force Loads

1. In the Simulation study tree, right-click the External Loads icon and select Force.

   The Force PropertyManager appears.

2. Click inside the Faces, Edges, Vertices, and Reference Points for Force box , then select the entity to which the force is applied.
3. Click Selected direction.
4. Click inside the Face, Edge, Plane, Axis for Direction box then select an entity to specify direction.
5. If you have selected more than one bodies to apply force, select either Per item or Total.
6. Select the desired Unit .
7. Under Force, select Normal or Selected Direction.
   • If you select a face or a plane for direction, specify at least one of the following components: Along Plane Dir 1 , Along Plane Dir 2 , or Normal to Plane .
   • If you select an edge for direction, specify the force value along that edge.
   • If you select an axis for direction, specify at least one of the following components: Radial , Circumferential , or Axial .
8. Check Nonuniform Distribution.
   1. Click inside the Select Coordinate System box and select a coordinate system: Cartesian, cylindrical, or spherical from the graphics area or from the FeatureManager Design Tree.
   2. Select the units for linear or angular coordinates.
   3. Click the image of the type of coordinate system you selected and click Edit Equation.
   4. Enter the equation which describes the spatial variation of the force in the selected coordinate system. You can use a list of basic mathematical functions from the drop-down menu. In the equation interface, enter the coordinates inside quotation marks: "x", "y", "z", "r", "t", and "p".
9. Click .

If a distribution is specified such that forces change direction on part of the edge or a face as illustrated in the figure, the program sets the summation of the absolute values of the forces equal to the value specified in the PropertyManager.

When applying a nonuniform force that changes its direction [Figure(1)], split the load entity where the force changes its direction and apply the force in two steps [Figure (2) & Figure (3)].