Defining Mass Per Unit Area

A mass per unit area distributes a nonstructural mass over the area of a two-dimensional region. This feature lets you apply a mass to an area within your model.

You can deactivate this feature in the Model Tree from within the context menu.

See Also
About Nonstructural Masses
Properties Section
Ordered Geometric Sets
In Other Guides
Creating Simulation Features
Support Selection
  1. From the Abstractions section of the action bar, click Mass Per Unit Area .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. Select geometry supports.

    Area masses must be applied to one or more shell surfaces. You can also use geometry from an ordered geometric set.

  4. Select the Type of Mass:
    • Total Mass: Use this option if you know the entire mass that you want to apply to the supports.
    • Mass Per Unit Area: Use this option to calculate the added mass based on the area of the supports.

    Both of the options listed above define a mass that is distributed over the area of the selected supports. However, they allow you to define a fixed total mass that is divided across the support area or a mass per unit area that is multiplied by the support area.

  5. Enter the Magnitude of the mass.

    The magnitude is either the mass or the mass per unit area, depending on the type of mass you chose in the previous step.

  6. If you selected Total Mass, select the distribution method:
    • Mass Proportional evenly distributes the mass over the supports according to the existing structural mass; the mass is added with no change in the center of mass.
    • Volume Proportional evenly distributes the mass over the supports according to the existing volume; the center of mass might change if the structure is of nonuniform density.
  7. Click OK.