Generate a snow load with surcharge

In SCIA Engineer, surface force free loads allows you to generate area loads different from the one uniformly distributed on a selected 2D entity.

This option can be used to generate snow loads with surcharge.

In the example below a snow load of 0.45 kN/m² is applied to a roof 12 m wide, but, on the sides, a surcharge is considered with a maximum load of 1.25 kN/m² on a strip 2 m wide.

Step 1 (suggested): move the work plane to the top of the roof.

Step 2 : apply the uniform load as a free-load on the area from 2 m to 10 m from the eaves of the structure.

In the 'Surface force free' select Distribution = Uniform, System = GCS, Location = Projection



Tip: you can either use the snap point of the structure or of the dot grid to apply it.

Step 3: Create the trapezoidal load, by using the correct parameters.

In the 'Surface force free' select Distribution = Dir X (or Dir Y if required), System = GCS, Location = Projection



Tip: you can directly use the snap point of the previous free load applied.



Tip: you can apply the copy by symmetry the free load.

 

Note: If you have other floors, make sure you generate the snow only on the roof (you can use either the option 'Validity' or the option 'Select' in the properties of the surface force free.