Area Loads - Temperature (All)

Form: Area Temperature Loading

The temperature load creates thermal strain in an area object. This strain is given by the product of the material coefficient of thermal expansion and the temperature of the object.

Select one or more area objects to which to assign loads.
Click the Assign menu > Area Loads > Temperature (All) command to access the Area Temperature Loading form.

Load Case Name. Select the load case to which the temperature load is being added. Alternatively, click the + (plus symbol) beside the drop-down list to access the Define Loads form; use the form to define a load case that will then be available in the drop-down list.
Type. Choose the type of temperature loading

Temperature option. The temperature option applies the load as a constant through the thickness of the object and produces membrane strains.
Gradient 3-3 option. The gradient option applies the load as linear in the thickness direction and produces bending strains.

Temperature. Choose if the temperature is to be applied by element or by joint pattern

By Element. If by element, specify the temperature value in the Temperature edit box.
By Joint Pattern. If by Joint Pattern, select the joint pattern from the Pattern drop-down list and specify a multiplier in the Multiplier edit box.

Options. Specify how the load is to be applied:

Add to Existing Loads: Adds the specified temperature load to the area object. If one or more temperature load assignments have already been made, this option increases the load, assuming that a positive load is being applied.
Replace Existing Loads: Replaces the currently specified temperature load, if any, with the new load. If no assignment exists, the new assignment is still made. This is the default option.
Delete Existing Loads: Deletes any and all temperature load assignments made to the selected area object(s). When this option is selected, the items in the Type and Temperature areas of the form are ignored when the OK button is clicked.

The screen will refresh with a graphical representation of the load assigned on the selected members. If necessary, use the Assign menu > Clear Assigns command to remove the display of the assigned load.