Creating Combined Loads

This task shows you how to create a combined load. A combined load is a linear combination of existing loads.

You can reuse combined load specifications in several computation cases.

Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product.

Open the sample14_1.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

  1. Click Combined Loads in the Loads toolbar.

    The Combined Loads dialog box appears.

    • Name: lets you modify the name of the combined loads.

    • Analysis Sets: lets you select the load set you want to combine.

      • You cannot select a load set belonging to the current case (the current case is the one in which you create the combined loads).

      • You cannot select a load set belonging to a sub analysis in the case of an analysis assembly.
        To do this, you have to create an assembled load and then create the combined load by selecting the assembled load.

      To select a load set, you can either select it directly in the specification tree or you can use the Edit > Search... menu.

      • Index: gives you the identification number of the selected load set.

      • Selected Loads: gives you the name of the selected loads.

      • Coefficient: lets you associate a coefficient to the selected loads.
        You can edit the Coefficient value using the Edit Coefficient contextual menu.

        • You can change the coefficient value of several lines.
          To do this, multi-select the desired lines in the dialog box, right-click and select Edit Coefficient.
        • You can also directly edit the coefficient value.
          To do this, select the desired line, click the Coefficient value, modify the value. and press Enter.
        • You can enter a negative coefficient.

      • Path: gives you the path of the selected loads.
        You can hide or show the path of the selected load set using the Show Path contextual menu.

  2. Select in sequence the loads you want to combine.

    In this particular example, select:

    • Loads.1 set under the first Static Case

    • Loads.2 set under the second Static Case.

  3. Select the first line in the dialog box and right-click it.

    You can access the following contextual menus:

    • Edit Coefficient: lets you modify the combination coefficient of the selected load set.

    • Delete: lets you delete the selected line from the list.

    • Delete All: lets you delete all the content of the list.

    • Show Path: lets you hide or show the path of the selected load set.

  4. Select Edit Coefficient.

    The Parameter dialog box appears.

  5. Enter 2 and click OK.

  6. Select the second line, right-click it and select Edit Coefficient.

  7. Enter 3 and click OK.

    The Combined Loads dialog box is updated:

  8. Click OK.

    A Combined Loads.1 object appears in the specification tree.