Problem description

Points with features, such as point loads, point displacements and fixed-end anchors may show strange behaviour when these are located outside the geometric boundaries of the model.
Some cases in which this can occur can be seen below:

Figure 1. Examples of points outside the geometric boundaries

Note: in the case of a point feature being defined on a line, this will be taken into account only when a line feature is applied on this line, such as a plate or a geogrid.

In the case of a point feature being defined outside the geometric boundaries of the model, the node reference in the generated mesh might be incorrect. As a result, the UserFeature (e.g. PointLoad) might end up at a wrong node at an incorrect location.

The unexpected behaviour can be seen in Output when selecting to View mesh, Preview phase and View calculation results:

Figure 2. External points change location in results (Output)

This problem can be encountered especially when the point feature is not snapped on the geometry due to inaccuracy while defining the model in Structures mode.

Solution

This issue is now resolved in PLAXIS 2D 2016: you will be warned when such points exist in the model.

In earlier versions (PLAXIS 2D AE and 2D 2015) the Input program does not check for the mesh (in)dependent point UserFeatures, and so you are advised to check the geometry carefully for any points that are created outside the geometric model boundaries.
The location of these points then should be updated in Structures mode, or the points can be removed when not necessary.