Seismic Load on Plate element

Question

Hello, 
 
 I have modelled a culvert using 3D shell element. In order to apply the seismic load, which I have calculated manually in kN as a nodal load, How do I apply the nodal load for the whole laylength of the structure.. 
 
 I have model 3 legged culvert for the lay length of 2.4m. I feel the nodal load should be divided by the lay length and multiplied by 1m in order to get realistic result. 
 I do not want to use the seismic definition,but, instead use my manual calculation input value. 
 can you help!

Sye · Answer

If I am understanding the question correctly, you have calculated the total load and would like to find out how much to apply at each node. So dividing the total load by the length would give you the load per unit length. You can then multiply that by the influence width of each node to find out how much to apply at each node.

Sye · Answer

Did you model the full length of the culvert ( 2.4 m ) or are you modeling a 1 m length for the analysis ? If you calculated the load considering the length of 2.4 m and then for the analysis you are analyzing a 1m length only, then you should divide the load by 2.4 and apply it to the top of your model. The load may be distributed among the top nodes based on the width of influence of each node as mentioned in my last post.