I'm running a static stress analysis where the load is a Moment load about a shaft axis.
For the analysis to run successfully I have to change the load distribution from "Total Load", to "Total Load at Point." I then must pick some arbitrary point somewhere on the model. The location of this point does not affect analysis results.
Now, "total load at point" SOUNDS like, "Oh, gosh, the total moment load is going to all go through that one point."
But, no, after running the analysis we see that that point is ignored. It doesn't matter where the point is chosen.
Rather than calling it "Total Load at Point," PTC should call it, "Arbitrary reference point to be located anywhere on the modal to make Moment loads work."
Tech support couldn't given me a definition of what "Total Load at Point" means, nor could tech support tell me what the arbitrary point is for, other than it's needed to make the analysis work.
Does anyone on planet Earth have any further information on these matters?
Thanks,
Jeff