Auto-generation of wind loads.

Question

I have a model of a pier wall on pile cap. When I auto-generate the WS loads, I find that the column loads are applied between the top of the pile cap and the ground surface; that is, underground. Strangely, the load is the correct value (as if the wind was acting on the area of the wall above the ground), but LEAP applies the line load from y/L=0 to y/L=0.2 rather than on the range y/L=[0.2, 1]. Any thoughts?

Dilip Matange [Bentley] · Answer

The location of column loads is measured with respect to the fixity point. The fixity point will be at the bottom of a column, or at the fixity point for a drilled shaft. The location of loads on a column is specified as a ratio of y1/L or y2/L. If a distributed load starts a quarter point from the bottom, y1/L will be equal to 0.25. If this load ends at the mid-height of the column, y2/L will be equal to 0.5.

Loads: Load Data Screen (bentley.com)

Dilip Matange [Bentley] · Answer