Manage Loads
The Manage Loads dialog can be used to define a list of loading conditions that can be applied to one or multiple segments in the wall. To open the dialog:
- Select Loading and Support > Loads > Manage Loads
Parameters
Distribution
The types of loads that can be defined in RSWall are:
- Uniformly distributed load
- Line load
- Point load
Both line loads and a point loads are applied as concentrated loads in a wall segment. For point loads, you will need to define an "analysis width" over which the point load will be distributed along the wall segment direction.
Classification
Depending on the selected design standard, different options can appear here, corresponding to the various partial factors or LRFD factors that will be used during the analysis.
AASHTO
- Live surcharge
- Permanent surcharge
- Earth surcharge
- Unclassified
British Standard
- Live load
- Dead load
- Unclassified
NCMA
- Live load
- Dead load
Eurocode
- Variable load
- Permanent load
- Unclassified
Australian Standard
- Live load
- Dead load
- Unclassified
Each of the above options are treated differently in terms of applied load factors. The unclassified option indicates a load that will not be factored any further during the analysis.
Location
By default, the location of a concentrated load is measured as a distance behind the back of the wall at its top level, on the backslope. For the Abutment wall type, you can specify whether it is On the backslope or On top of the wall. In the latter case, the distance is instead measured from the back of the wall towards the front face.
Horizontal distance
For concentrated loads, you can specify the location of the load measured horizontally from the back of the wall.
Depth
A depth of the load below the ground topography may be specified. Input zero if the load is applied at the ground surface.
Magnitude
Specify that magnitude of the applied load.
Bearing width
For concentrated loads, you can specify a bearing width over which the load will be distributed in the direction parallel to the wall section.
Analysis width
For point loads, you can specify a width in the direction of the wall segment's length (into the page of the wall section) over which the load will be assumed to be distributed.
Assigned Segments
Users can use this tab to assign the defined load to any number of wall segments in the current wall, either by choosing the specific wall segments or by clicking All segments in the current wall.