To assign a distributed force along a member or part of a member, use the following procedure.

1. Select the members that will all have the same distributed load applied.
2. On the Member ribbon tab, select the Distributed tool in the Loads group.
   
   The Add Member Distributed Load dialog opens.
3. Select the Load group or case to which the load will be added from the drop-down list.
4. Select the Load type from the drop-down list.
   • Uniform - a load which is constant in magnitude along the entire member length
     
   • Variable - a load which varies linearly over a portion of the member length
     
   • Triangular - a load which varies linearly from zero to a peak magnitude at the member midpoint and then back to zero along the member length
     
   • Trapezoidal - a load which varies linearly from zero to a specified magnitude at a specified distance along the length of the member, then remains at that magnitude until the same distance from then opposite end of the member
     
   • Stepped - a load that changes from an initial magnitude to a second magnitude at a specified point along the member length
     
   • Ends - a load that is applied at a set distance from each end of the member
     
5. Select the Direction in which the load acts from the drop-down list.
   • Global X / Y / Z – to apply loads parallel to the selected global axis.
   • Local x / y / z – to apply loads parallel to the selected local axis. Local x loads are axial to a member.
   • Projected X / Y / Z – indicate the loads along the projected length of the member in the corresponding global direction
6. Enter the load values and distances per the Load type selection:
   1. Type the load magnitude.
   2. For Variable or Stepped load types, type the final load magnitude.
   3. (Optional) For Variable, Trapezoidal, Stepped, or Ends load types, set the option to As a percentage to enter load distances as a fraction of the member length.
   4. For Variable, Trapezoidal, Stepped, or Ends load types, type the distance to the load or change in load:

      For…	Type the…
      Variable	Initial distance – distance from the start node to the start of the variable load.
      Trapezoidal	Variable distance – distance from the start node to the beginning of the uniform portion of the load (i.e., end of the linearly increasing portion).
      Stepped	Step distance – distance from the start node to the step change in load value.
      Ends	Distance from end – distance from the start and end nodes of the loaded portion of the member.

   5. For Variable load type, type the Final distance. This is the distance from the start node to the end of the variable load.
7. Click OK. The dialog closes and the load is applied to the selected members.