Modelling a lamp post in FE, add load on a dummy element to add loads to lamp post.

Question

I have done a FE of a lamp post to assess the secondary stresses at the connection between two of its tubes where there are high local stresses (due compatibility of deformation at the intersection between plates meeting at different angles). 
 when I introduce an horizontal Uniform distributed loads on the plates (wind affect), I am able to run, the model and obtained results. However, I do not manage to get the correct wind load on the cylinders wind front. 
 Now I wish to introduce the wind load in a different manner for all the elements attached to the lamp post: stem tube, signboard, speakers, luminary. 
 I was thinking of using a 5 meter long dummy beam (say 10 mm solid cylinder) running he whole height of the FE model of the stem tube, with a dummy material of low E and Density, then apply different load cases on the dummy beam. Question is how to do this, I am getting errors: material does not have correct E, ..... 
 I have attached the beam between two end nodes of the FE model of the stem tube. I have not provided internal restraining nodes for this beam, just only at its ends,,,, can this be improved?.

Sye · Answer

I am not sure if I fully understood the problem statement but seems like you are getting errors related to E values during analysis. Check if the values are consistent with the unit setting or not. May be E is becoming almost zero based on the value you entered and the current unit setting. Also connectivity between finite elements happen at the common nodes only and so if your dummy elements are just connected to the start and end nodes of the tube and are not connected to the intermediate nodes of the plate mesh, there are no connections at these intermediate locations and hence no load transfer.

Sye · Answer

Density can be zero but E cannot be zero as that would lead to numerical instability. Try using E of 1/100 or at the most 1/1000 of the E used for the rest of the members. 
 When modeling with plates, it is better to apply the pressure load directly on the plates (1 KN/m2). You can apply the pressure along the appropriate global direction.

Sye · Answer

Yes you are correct. When applying the plate pressure load, the software considers the actual surface area of the plates and not the projected area. So to get the load on the projected area you would need to adjust the value of the pressure.