A free line load acts as a uniform or linearly variable force along any freely definable line of a surface. This load type is suitable for applying a load to a single edge of a surface only; for example, if you want to apply the loading by walls or wind in a simplified way.
Usage in RFEM
Free line loads can be entered and defined in RFEM using the menu "Insert" → "Loads" → "Free Line Loads" → "Dialog Box" or in tables.
In the "Load Case" list, select the load case to which you want to assign the line load.
In the "Assigned to Surfaces" section, you can control the effective area of the load. There are several options available in the list:
- "Empty": The load does not act on any surfaces.
- All: The load is applied to all surfaces that are cut perpendicular to the projection plane, starting from the load locations.
- "Number": The load acts only on the surfaces of the specified numbers.
The following options are available for selection in the "Load distribution" list:
- Uniform: The line load acts with a constant magnitude.
- Linear: The load has a linearly variable magnitude.
In the "Parameters" section, you can specify load values of the line load. In the "Load location" section, you can define the coordinates between which the free line load should act.