Hi All,
I have a curved slab and I want to apply a line load around the perimeter to model the cladding. I have applied a line load in the +Fz direction (vertically, downwards). I now need to apply a moment (downwards also, due to eccentricity of the cladding/balconies). I initially applied a moment in the -Mx, but I now realise that this is incorrect. Chapter 68.8 of the Manual shows the sign conventions. Chapter 21.5 says that when you apply a line load moment, it is applied in the global x or y axis. This is a problem if your slab is curve around the edge. It follows no simply pattern. I can't simply work out an My and Mx component and it's constantly changing it's profile.
If it was another software, I would probably have applied a line load at an eccentricity and have rigidly linked (kinematic coupling) to the slab edge. I don't think that this is an option in RAM. The other thing I thought of was to model a very thin (20 mm ?) extension of the slab, around the perimeter, and then applying a line load to this "virtual" slab edge to get a moment on my actual slab edge. I'll get huge deflections on the 20 mm bit of slab, but I don't think that it will affect my actual slab.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm sure this has been done before, but I can't find any other discussions.