Alpaca4d

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Point ​

A concentrated force and moment applied at a single point.

🔧 Grasshopper component ​

Point LoadAlpaca4d ▸ 05_Load
Point Load component
Inputs
PointPointWhere the load acts. Matched to the nearest node within the Assemble tolerance.
ForceVectorForce components Fx, Fy, Fz in global axes, in kN.
MomentVector0, 0, 0Moment components Mx, My, Mz in global axes, in kN·m.
Outputs
LoadLoadPoint load, for a Load Pattern.

📈 When to use it ​

Use it when

  • The area of application is small compared with the structure — a column reaction on a transfer beam, a machine base, a cable anchorage.
  • You are applying a control force for a pushover.

Do not use it when

  • The load is genuinely distributed → Beam Load or Shell Load.
  • There is no node at the point. A point load lands on the nearest node within tolerance; if there is none within it, assembly fails with "Point load at location … is not part of the model!" — raise the Assemble tolerance or move the point.

Note

The moment components are dropped on a 3 DOF node — one belonging only to bricks or tetrahedra. Only nodes touched by a beam or a shell carry rotational DOFs.

🔗 Relation to OpenSees

Inside the enclosing pattern:

tcl
load $nodeTag $Fx $Fy $Fz $Mx $My $Mz   ;# 6 DOF node
load $nodeTag $Fx $Fy $Fz               ;# 3 DOF node