3.6.9: Beam Forces

Sometimes it is desirable to have section forces and moments represented as components in the direction of the local axes of the cross section instead of resultant values. Use the “Beam Forces”-component in such a case. Its output is similarly structured as that of the “Beam Resultant Forces”-component, but its output plugs comprise the force components in local directions (see fig. 3.6.9.1). The sequence of element results corresponds to the sequence of beams.

Fig. 3.6.9.1: Orientation of cross section forces of a beam (torsional moment Mx not displayed here)

A list of normal forces, shear forces and moments for all elements and all load cases is returned as displayed in fig. 3.6.9.2. “LCase” and “BeamIds” input can be used to limit the results to a specific load-case of a subset of the beams in the model – the default value of “−1” outputs results for all load-cases. An empty string at the “BeamIDs”-input stands for all elements. The input parameters “maxL” and “NRes” determine the number of results along the beam axis. “maxL” can be used to control the maximum distance between results. A negative value for “maxL” means that there is no maximum distance condition. “NRes” sets the number of results along the beams. The beams endpoints are automatically included in the output. The sequence of element results corresponds to the sequence of beams. The output values are organised with a data tree structure where the load-cases take hierachy over the individual beam elements.

Fig. 3.6.9.2: Normal force “N”, shear force “V” and resultant moment “M”.