Line Supports are used in VisualPlate to restrain the model along a series of nodes that fall on a straight line which is defined by a start coordinate and an end coordinate in the XY-plane.

Support Properties

Line Supports only provide restraint along a single line of nodes in the FEA model. VisualPlate only allows deflection in the Z-direction and rotation about the X-axis and Y-axis. Line Supports fix the deflection of the nodes on the line in the Z-direction and fix the rotation of the nodes about a line in the XY-plane perpendicular to the Line Support. The three support options (Pinned, Fixed, and Spring) allow the rotational restraint about the line defined by the Line Support in the XY-plane to be specified.

Analysis Results

The total force in the Z-direction and the total moment about the Line Support is calculated and reported for each load case.