Using the snow generator

Step 0: Enabling the snow generation and selecting the type of snow load

In order to tell SCIA Engineer that the snow generator will be used, the user must say so on the Functionality tab of Project setup dialogue. Item Climatic load must be selected in the functionality list.

To select the snow type see chapter Types of snow load.

Step 1: Starting the function

The snow generator can be accessed via function Load > Snow generator.

Step 2: Defining the distance between adjacent frames

The snow load is generated for a single planar section of the structure. In order to calculate properly the load values, the program must know the "snow width", i.e. the distance between adjacent frames. Therefore, on starting the function, the user is asked to define this dimension.

Step 3: Specifying the generator parameters

Once this step is done, a snow generator dialogue is opened on the screen. The user may control the generation of the snow load via a set of parameters of the generator. Their meaning and application is explained in chapter Adjusting the snow generator parameters.

Step 4: Generation of the load

On completion of the input of generator parameters and its confirmation, the adequate load is calculated and applied on the structure.