Area loads as a "virtual" shell elements. Can do IT??

[edferlac]

Hi everyone.
I have a problem with loads in SAP2000.
I need to apply snow, wind and dead loads over a curved glazed roof. It's diifcult to translate a surface load, for example the snow into a frame distributed load, as I do in 2D frames, a in a curved surface (weight/surface ==> weight/lenght), bacause i can'nt cuantify the amount of forces that go to one beam, and the amount to the others

I heard it can be done asign the uniform loads to shells, but shellas only as "virtual elements" for only trassmission of forces, but no mass, moments, shears....

Can it be done?How?
Some help, please.

 

[zer]

Try making a simpler model in which you assign the loads to the frames, and in the other one you draw shell elements but with zero stiffeness in all DOF's. If the results are the same, you probably can use it in your curved roof.

 

[masomenos]

First, define a 'dummy' material with zero weight, zero mass and a very small modulus of elasticity. Then using this dummy material, define a dummy Area section which is very thin. Try it with membrane element type, but compare results with shell type.

Once you have defined this 'dummy' area element, you can apply area loads and have it automatically transfer those loads based on tributary area and stiffnesses to the frame elements

You can call it a 'virtual' element or a 'dummy' element, but that's how you do it.