🌍Gravity

A gravity load represents the self‑weight of the structure due to gravity. In Alpaca4d this is handled by the Gravity Load (Alpaca4d) component, which creates an Alpaca4d.Loads.Gravity object.

Inputs

• Factor (optional): Dimensionless multiplier for the gravity acceleration, default = 1.0.

  • Factor = 1.0 → standard self‑weight.

  • Factor = 0.0 → self‑weight disabled.

  • Factor > 1.0 → amplified gravity (e.g. to include additional permanent loads not modelled explicitly).

The direction and value of gravity (e.g. acting in (-Z)) are defined in the global Alpaca4d settings / analysis model, not in this component.

Output

• Load: A gravity Load object that can be connected to a load pattern and then to the Assemble component.

Usage notes

• Gravity loads are usually included in a separate permanent load pattern (e.g. “G”) and combined with other patterns for design combinations.

• For many models, self‑weight plus a few distributed shell or beam loads is enough to capture the full permanent loading.