Pressure units for a 1D edge on a structural model?

Dear all,

I have a 2D structural model that I have modelled with standard SI units and I intend to apply a force distributed evenly over an edge in the model - in essence a pressure but in 1D.

What are the units for the pressure if I apply a pressure to the edge of the model?

If I wanted to apply a force of say 1e4N, over the edge, then how could this be achieved, as Force loads must be specified on a vertex?

Thank you

[darova]

Why can't you just divide load between nodes?

[Elliot Bontoft]

This is possible, I just thought if i understood how the magnitude of the pressure load is interpreted on a 2D edge then i could scale it and this would be easier.

[Elliot Bontoft]

Hi @darova, I looked into this further, you cannot apply loads to mesh nodes in MATLAB - only geometry vertices. I could break down the model to add lots of artificial vertices in a straight line on the edge of interest. This seems like a lengthy workaround, but i do not know of another way.

Answer 1

[Ravi Kumar]

When you are solving a 2-D structural probelm (either plane stress or plane strain approximation), unit thickness is implicit. Can can scale the load to account for finite thickness based on this.

Regards,

Ravi

[Elliot Bontoft]

Hi Ravi, could you expand a little more on this? I am not sure I follow.

How could I access the magnitude of the unit thickness for the finite elements? As i think you are suggesting, with this information I can calculate the area (unit thickness X edge length), which allows me to calculate the correct pressure value.

Thanks