3.1.12.1. Plain Pattern

This command allows the user to construct a LoadPattern object. Each plain load pattern is associated with a TimeSeries object and can contain multiple NodalLoads, ElementalLoads and SP_Constraint objects.

pattern Plain $patternTag $tsTag <-fact $cFactor> {load commands}

Argument	Type	Description
$patternTag	integer	unique tag among load patterns
$tsTag	integer	the tag of the time series to be used in the load pattern
$cFactor	float	constant factor (optional: default=1.0)

load commands:

• 3.1.12.1.1. load Command
• 3.1.12.1.2. eleLoad Command
• 3.1.12.1.3. Sp Command

Note

The loads (element, nodal, constraints) in a Plain Load pattern are reference loads. The actual load applied to a node or element is the product of the $cFactor, the reference load, and a load factor. The load factor, which is obtained from the associated Time Series Command is a function of the time in the domain and the time series object.

Warning

Tcl and Python differ here. In the Tcl interpreter the commands to create loads and constraints come in the squirrelly brackets after the command. In python, any load or constraints defined after a pattern are added to that pattern. This is as shown in following example.

Example:

The following example demonstrates how to create a Linear time series, and associate it with a Plain load pattern which contains nodal loads to be applied to nodes 3 and 4 of reference magnitude (0,-50) and (50.0, -100) respectively.

1. Tcl Code

timeSeries Linear 2
pattern Plain 1 2 {
        load  3   0.0  -50.0  0.0
        load  4   50.0  -100.0 0.0
}

2. Python Code

timeSeries("Linear", 2)
pattern("Plain", 1, 2)
load(3, 0.0, -50.0)
load(4, 50.0, -100.0)

Code Developed by: fmk