Point Supports in VisualPlate are used to support the plate at a specified location in the model.

Modeling

Point Supports are defined by their location in the XY-plane in the model. Note: In the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model, only a single node in the slab's mesh is restrained at a point support; therefore, care should be taken when using a point supports to model a physical support that has a large cross-sections.

Support Type

VisualPlate only allows deflection in the Z-direction and rotation about the X-axis and Y-axis. Therefore, Point Supports have the option of being set to Fixed, Free, or Specified-K (stiffness) for Force-Z, Moment-X, and Moment-Y.

Mesh Refinement

The FEA method is approximate and the accuracy of the solution typically increases as the mesh becomes finer. Generally, a finer mesh should be used in regions where there are large changes in stresses in the plates (such as at point supports where the support can create stress concentrations). Select a point support(s) and set Refine? = True in the Project Manager | Modify tab to refine the mesh in the regions of the chosen point support(s). The mesh refinement parameters for point supports are defined in the image below. Note: Since point supports are a single point in the model and do not have physical sized, the offset and element length at start begin at a 4 inch diameter circle that encloses the point support.

Loading

Point Supports cannot be directly loaded in VisualPlate. A Load Point can be defined at the same location as the point support (i.e. connected to the same node in the finite element model) and load can be applied to the Load Point.

Analysis

The force in the Z-direction and the moments in the X-direction and the Y-direction are calculated for each load case and reported for the Point Supports in VisualPlate. The displacement in the Z-direction and the rotations about the X-axis and the Y-axis are also reported.

Reports

Report tables, which include modeling and result information for the Point Supports, are available in the Text Report view.