Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide

For 2-D and 3-D Solids

• For shell elements (SHELLnnn), the locations for body loads are usually the "pseudo-nodes" at the
  top and bottom planes, as shown below.

Figure 2.13:BFE Load Locations for Shell Elements

I

J

L

K

VAL1

VAL2

VAL 3

VAL 4

VAL5

VAL 6

VAL 7

VAL 8

• Line elements (BEAMnnn, LINKnnn, PIPEnnn, etc.) are similar to shell elements; the locations for body
  loads are usually the pseudo-nodes at each end of the element.

Figure 2.14:BFE Load Locations for Beam and Pipe Elements

• In all cases, if degenerat e (collapsed) elements are involved, you must specify element loads at all of
  its locations, including duplicat e values at the duplicat e (collapsed) nodes. A simple alternative is to
  specify body loads directly at the nodes, using the BF command.

2.5.8.2. Specifying Body Loads for Keypoints

You can use the BFK command to apply body loads at keypoints. If you specify loads at the corner
keypoints of an area or a volume, all load values must be equal for the loads to be transferred to the
interior nodes of the area or volume. If you specify unequal load values, they are transferred (with linear
interpolation) to only the nodes along the lines that connect the keypoints.Figure 2.15:Transfers to
BFK Loads to Nodes (p. 43) illustrat es this:

Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information

Loading