A list of load combinations with given loads in each loading point of the connection can be imported in PowerConnect.

Import format

The import format is TAB separated text file. This is a simple notepad file (*.TXT) with a header ‘Name’, ‘Load’, ‘N’, ‘M’, ‘V’ and ‘Mo’, separated by tabs. The units are as stated in Options > Units & Decimals.

Each line represents a new load combination in a loading point of the connection (1/2/3/4).

Answer: ULS values

And here’s why:

The loads to be entered in PowerConnect should be design values. That means that the value should include already a safety factor. There are no options in PowerConnect to enter load safety factors or to generate load combinations. Secondly, we are calculating the connection’s strength and resistance. So the load combination should be adequate to evaluate the strength and resistance and strength combinations in Eurocode correspond with ULS – Ultimate Limit State. So there’s your answer. You need to enter ULS values.

Note that you might want to enter multiple ULS combinations. For example: ULS max  and ULS min values. You can enter multiple combinations. Learn here how to enter extra load combinations.

In the Loads window, you can easily add loads by clicking either the highlighted number on the connection drawing or clicking the corresponding load box. As both numbers are simultaneously highlighted, you know exactly what box to click.

In the dialog window that pops-up you can enter the loads.  The positive sense is shown on the connection drawing.

The load are added in the displayed load combination as stated above the load boxed, in the video below ‘Combination1’.

Load combinations

New load combination

To add more load combinations, click the ‘load preference’ text in the right bottom corner and next the button List of Combinations. Here you can define a new combination and change the name, to for example ‘Combination2’.

Set a load combination

To access a combination, you click on the ‘load preference’ text in the right bottom corner.  From the combinations list, you select another load combination. Now you can enter the loads for chosen load combination.