In today’s engineering practice it seems that the sky is the limit for the shape of structures. In this article we show some examples of projects with amazing shapes.

For the engineer it is not easy to put loads (e.g. wind, snow, life loads, etc) on these types of structures. That is why Scia Engineer provides a tool that makes it easier: Free loads.

“Free loads” is a powerful tool for loading both flat and curved 2D members such as walls, slabs and shells.The definition of free loads is composed of:
- their geometry, which is independent of the geometry of structural members,
- the direction of the load effect,
- a list of 2D members which are influenced by the free loads.

Free loads are in fact easy load generators.

Original load / generated load

The input of free loads is easy. It was already available in previous versions. In Scia Engineer 2008.1 nice enhancements have been made for this load generator. Version 2008.1 introduces the possibility to generate loads directly on 2D members and to display them.

It will provide a clear view of which 2D members are loaded and in which direction. These Generated loads are displayed in the same way as the rest of generated loads (wind, snow, load panels).

The user can easily check if the input is correct or if some adaptations are needed. Free loads which are not projected to any 2D members are highlighted to warn users, that their definition is probably not correct.

Definition of surface free load on a cylinder – wind load	Generated load on a cylinder	One definition of the free load can load more 2D members	Defined and generated load on a cupola

Generated loads in the document

The side effect of the generation of “real loads” from free loads is the ability to print them into a document. Both possibilities are kept. The user can print the definition of free loads and/or generated loads related to 2D members.