Function
- Trace and graphically display the vehicle loading condition (corresponding moving load case and location) that results in the maximum/minimum force of a beam element. The loading condition is converted into a static loading and produced as a model file of the MGT type. This is an extremely useful feature when we wish to find the loading condition that creates the maximum or minimum force.
Call
From the Main Menu select [Results] tab > [Type : Analysis Result] > [Moving Load] group > [Moving Tracer] > [Beam Forces/Moments]
Input
Moving Load Cases
Select a moving load case (vehicle type) that is to be traced and located at a position satisfying the max/min internal force.
Key Element : Enter a beam element number, or click the entry field and the desired truss element in the working window.
Scale Factor : Enter the drawing scale factor for the influence line/surface. This does not affect the influence line/surface values.
Parts
Assign a position along the length of the beam element within which the internal force influence is sought.
Components
Select a desired component of the beam element's internal forces.
Fx : Axial force component in the element's local x-direction
Fy : Shear force component in the element's local y-direction
Fz : Shear force component in the element's local z-direction
Mx : Torsional moment component about the element's local x-axis
My : Bending moment component about the element's local y-axis
Mz : Bending moment component about the element's local z-axis
Type of Display
Assign the type of display.
Contour
Display the displacement of the model in contour.
The ... Button
Ranges: Define the contour ranges.
The Customize Range... Button : Assign the color distribution range of contour. Using the function, specific colors for specific ranges can be assigned.
Note
Contour Range Max/Min values can be larger than the max/min output values. If the Contour Range values exceed the output values, they are entered at Rank 0 and Rank 11.
Number of Colors : Assign the number of colors to be included in the contour (select among 6, 12, 18, 24 colors)
Colors : Assign or control the colors of the displacement contour.
Color Table : Assign the type of Colors.
The Customize Color Table Button : Control the colors by zones in the contour.
Reverse Contour : Check on to reverse the sequence of color variation in the contour.
Contour Line : Assign the boundary line color of the contour
Element Edge : Assign the color of element edges while displaying the contour
Contour Options : Specify options for contour representation
Contour Fill
Gradient Fill : Display color gradient (shading) in the contour.
Draw Contour Lines : Display color boundaries in the contour.
Draw Contour Line Only : Display only the colored boundaries of the contour.
Mono line : Display the boundaries of the contour in a mono color.
Contour Annotation : Legend or annotation signifying the ranges of the contour is displayed.
Spacing : Display the spacing for the legnd or annotation.
Coarse Contour (faster) (for large plate or solid model) : Represent a simplified contour for a large model using plate or solid elements in order to reduce the time required to represent a complete contour.
Extrude : Where plate elements or solid elements along a cutting plane are represented in contour, a three dimensional contour is created. The positive direction of the analysis results is oriented in the z-axis direction of the local element coordinate system.
The option is not concurrently applicable with the Deformed Shape option. Similarly, the option cannot be concurrently applied to the cases where the Hidden option is used to display plate element thicknesses or the Both option is used to represent Top & Bottom member forces (stresses).
Legend
Display various references related to analysis results to the right or left of the working window.
The ... Button
Legend Position : Position of the legend in the display window
Rank Value Type : Specify a type of values in the Legend and the number of decimal points.
Applied Loads
Graphically display the vehicle load condition for which the analysis results in the max/min displacement.
Set a detail display condition for the vehicle load case.
The ... Button
Load Scale Factor : Enter the drawing scale factor for the load representation.
Load Values : Option to display the load values
Include Impact Factor
Reflect the impact factor in the display.
Maximum Value
Produce the maximum or minimum value calculated from the moving vehicle load analysis.
The Write Min/Max Load to File Button : Where Influence Line or Influence Surface analysis has been carried out, the moving load case, which produces the maximum or minimum results, is converted into a static loading and produced as an MCT type.
File Name
Enter the file path and name of the MCT file to be output.
Include Centrifugal Force
In the case of a curved bridge include additional loads created by Centrifugal Force in the conversion into the static loading.