Pre-stress loading is normally used for tensile fabric analysis. This is to simulate the pre-stressing load of the fabric. This value needs to be assigned before running Form-finding, NonLinear Analysis, or Tensegrity Analysis solver on a membrane structure. Pre-stress loading only applicable to Membrane Element (Element Type 4). Select the element of which Pre-stress are applied and specify the value. Note that pre-stress loading are always assigned to Load Case 1 in Windas Work Station. User can also apply different varying pre-stress value on one element to another. Default unit is N/mm2.
Click Add – Loading – Membrane Pre-stress
The pre-stress principal direction is ideally the perpendicular plane of the mesh.
