I've created beam elements to which I need to apply preload. I've created the required pre-tension node which lies coincident with the end of the beam but is unattached to the beam. To this node I apply pre-tension (i.e., *PRE-TENSION SECTION, ELEMENT=BEAM, NODE=PT_NODE) and then define my *CLOAD (i.e., *CLOAD /nl PT_NODE, 1, PRELOAD) with the appropriate pre-tension applied to the Pre-Tension node. The results indicate a reaction force of the intended preload at the pre-tension node of magnitude expected, but the load is not transferred to the beam element for some reason. I'm not sure what I'm doing incorrectly.

Abaqus ​​​​​​​