Body (Acceleration) Loads

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MainMenuAndMainIconsACCELERATION

 

You can specify the X and Y components of an Acceleration vector acting on the Model. If the Model has Mass (Non-zero Density is defined for the Model's Material), then the acceleration will cause inertial body (Elemental) forces on the Elements of the Model, according to Newton's Second Law of Motion. These elemental forces are calculated automatically by the program and the results are shown on the form.

To apply an acceleration vector, type the values for the aX and aY acceleration components and press the ENTER on the keyboard. The model is updated automatically. The values of the body loads can be seen on the form (read-only properties).

 

body(acceleration)loads

 

Useful applications of body (Acceleration) loads

1. Define the self-weight of the Model or the self-weight of specific Elements

If you want to take into account the self-weight of Elements as an additional elemental load for each Element, then you have to provide the Material Density for the Material of each Element (See Materials) and also to define a Linear Acceleration Vector equal to the standard earth gravitational acceleration. A common practice is to put the earth gravitational acceleration with a minus (-) sign at the Y direction - this means gravity acting towards -Y global axis. See also Units.

Example: For a consistent system of unis: If you are using kN for forces, m for length and s for time, then the Material Density has to be given in t/m3 and you have to input -9.80665 (or simply -9.81) at the aY component of the Linear Acceleration Vector. This way, the self-weight will be applied to all Elements of the Model that have Mass (i.e. are assigned a Material which has a Density value). Note that Density is an optional property of a Material. If there is no Density for the Material of an Element, then the self-weight of the Element will be considered as zero and there will be no body load.

 

2. Define forces acting on a moving (accelerating) object

Acceleration is not only Gravity. If an object accelerates, then inertial forces are applied on it, provided that the object has Mass. For example, you can analyze a structure that is fixed on a moving (accelerating) vehicle. Even if there are no other loads, the acceleration of the vehicle will cause inertial forces on the object. By providing the X and Y components of the acceleration vector, you can calculate these forces and analyze the Model.