I have a stepping stool that is symmetric between left/right sides.  I have split it down the middle (on the symmetry plane) and applied a symmetry constraint on it.  If I expect the max load on the stool to be 300 pounds, should I use this full load when the stool has been cut in half (and the symmetry constraint has been applied)?  Or should I only be using half of the load since I am only using half of the stool.  My thought is that I should be using the full load, not just half, since, even though the reaction of both sides of the stool is accounted for by use of the symmetry constraint, it does not account for the other half of the load.  Am I thinking about this correctly?

Even if I use the full load, I don't think I can simulate one half of the load on the left side and the other half on the right side (as would be the case if someone were standing in the middle of the stool).  Or should I be using a remote load for the half that would be applied to the side of the stool that has been removed?