If you are performing a static or full transient analysis, you can take advantage of the Solution Controls
dialog box to define many options for the analysis. For details about the Solution Controls dialog box,
see Solution (p. 111).
You can specify either a new analysis or a restart, but a new analysis is the norm in most cases. A mul-
tiframe restart that allows you to restart an analysis at any point is available for static and transient (full
or mode-superposition method) analyses. For more information, see Restarting an Analysis (p. 127). The
various analysis guides provide more specific information about restart requirements. You cannot change
the analysis type and analysis options after the first solution.
An example input listing for a structural transient analysis is shown below. Remember that the discipline
(structural, thermal, magnetic, etc.) is implied by the element types used in the model.
ANTYPE,TRANS
TRNOPT,FULL
NLGEOM,ONAfter you have defined the analysis type and analysis options, the next step is to apply loads. Some
structural analysis types require other items to be defined first, such as master degrees of freedom and
gap conditions. The Structural Analysis Guide describes these items where necessary.
1.2.2. Applying Loads
The word loads as used in the documentation includes boundary conditions (constraints, supports, or
boundary field specifications) as well as other externally and internally applied loads. Loads are divided
into these categories:
- DOF Constraints
- Forces
- Surface Loads
- Body Loads
- Inertia Loads
- Coupled-field Loads
You can apply most of these loads either on the solid model (keypoints, lines, and areas) or the finite
element model (nodes and elements). For details about the load categories and how they can be applied
on your model, see Loading (p. 21) in this manual.
Two important load-related terms you need to know are load step and substep. A load step is simply a
configuration of loads for which you obtain a solution. In a structural analysis, for example, you may
apply wind loads in one load step and gravity in a second load step. Load steps are also useful in dividing
a transient load history curve into several segments.
Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential informationApplying Loads and Obtaining the Solution