Applying area loads in software such as RAM Concept is quite easy as you can apply patch loads over the top of your slab mesh.
Anybody use Null Areas to apply areas loads in a similar patch loading fashion? Especially now since the auto-mesher in ETABS has become much better.
See example below. I've applied 10 kPa to the Null Area across the typical flat plate. Having a look at the deflected shape, it would suggest the slab auto-mesh has cookie-cut the null area to apply the patch loading correctly. If it didn't all of the null area loading would be dumped at it's 4 nodes on the left and right hand side of the frame and the deflected shape would look very different.
Keen to hear people's thoughts. Maybe it's something CSI can develop further, so we can draw load patch areas, not just assign shells loads to themselves.
Anybody use Null Areas to apply areas loads in a similar patch loading fashion? Especially now since the auto-mesher in ETABS has become much better.
See example below. I've applied 10 kPa to the Null Area across the typical flat plate. Having a look at the deflected shape, it would suggest the slab auto-mesh has cookie-cut the null area to apply the patch loading correctly. If it didn't all of the null area loading would be dumped at it's 4 nodes on the left and right hand side of the frame and the deflected shape would look very different.
Keen to hear people's thoughts. Maybe it's something CSI can develop further, so we can draw load patch areas, not just assign shells loads to themselves.
