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Point, Angled and Distributed Loads

  • The selector above the structure tree shows all load cases, one case, or hides loads. It filters load arrows and tree entries only; analysis still includes all loads according to the selected combination.
  • For an angled point force on a node or member, choose Direction > Angle, then enter a signed magnitude and an angle in degrees. Angles are global, counterclockwise from +X: 0 points right, 90 up, -90 down, and 180 left for positive magnitudes. A negative magnitude reverses the chosen direction. The live FX/FY preview shows each component on its own line in the selected force units. One angled load is saved and edited as a single object; its components are resolved automatically for analysis. Negative combination factors reverse the force normally.
  • Member loads can be Point or Distributed. Distributed loads use start/end intensities in kip/in or kN/m and start/end fractions along the member. Equal intensities give a uniform load; different intensities give a linear ramp, including triangular or sign-changing loads. Choose FX/FY for global axis loading or Angle for a global angled distribution; one angle applies to both endpoint intensities. Negative intensities reverse that direction. Intensities remain force per unit member length, not projected length. Select a load in the tree to edit it in the inspector. Splitting clips each loaded region and interpolates its endpoint intensities, preserving the original distribution without creating artificial nodal forces.
  • Member forces also offer Local x, Local y, and Local angle for both point and distributed loads. +local x runs from the member start node to its end node; +local y is 90 degrees counterclockwise from that direction in the XY plane. Local angle is counterclockwise from +local x. These definitions are resolved to global FX/FY at the solver boundary, independently of PyNite's internal 3D axis orientation. The preview always shows global components. Local loads rotate with member geometry, including when its endpoints are reversed. Split segments retain the local reference. A point force at a split becomes a global angled nodal load with the same vector, since a node has no unique member-local axes. Reassigning a local point load to a node in the inspector also preserves its current global vector.

Source: GUIDE.md. This manual follows the current repository; the published rc1 wheel has a smaller feature set.