Ref: CAESAR II User Guide Page 8-30 of Dynamic Input and Analysis

It says that "If the Force-Time profiles were entered using their actual values, then the force set values should be entered as 1.0"

Query:

Can the magnitudes of force be defined either in +/- values in the Force-Time profile of Spectrum Table generator, along with the force set values normalised to 1.0 for Time History analysis.

However i am asking CAESAR II to consider force direction by inputing X/Y/Z in the DIRECTION input of the force set table.

For e.g if my force is acting in the -X direction, please confirm whether the above method of mentioning forces with negative values in the Force-time profile of Spectrum Table generator is acceptable by CAESAR II , having normalised the forces in the force set to 1.0 & also mentioning the axis X as a whole in the direction input of the force set.

No you really shouldn't use negative values in the time history profile. This is something we are currently looking at changing. Until then, I recommend you not do this.

My suggestion is to normalize the time history profile, and put the force magnitude in the force set, with the appropriate sign on the force as necessary. This makes the input much more obvious.

Your suggestion of normalising Time history profile means putting 1.0 in both Time and Force inputs of Time history profile.

Please confirm the same.

You pulses should be staggered in time, to properly load the system as the pulse moves. Yes, the maximum magnitude of the pulse is 1.0.

It is best to put the actual force magnitude in the "force set", appropriately signed to indicate direction. An excellent reference article on time history can be found in the June 1994 issue of COADE's Mechanical Engineering News. If you don't have a hard copy of this issue, you can find it on this web site in the Newsletters section.