Beam orientation PDF

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Beam orientation...

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Beam cross-sectional axis system

The orientation of a beam cross-section is defined in Abaqus in terms of a local, right-handed (t,n1,n2) axis system, where is the tangent to the axis of the element, positive in the direction from the first to the second node of the element, and n1 and n2 are vectors that define the local 1- and 2directions of the cross-section. This beam cross-sectional axis system is illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Local axis definition for beam-type elements.

Defining the n1-direction

For beams in a plane (you should be using beams in a plane rather than 3d beams) the n1-direction is always (0.0, 0.0, –1.0); that is, normal to the plane in which the motion occurs. Therefore, planar beams can bend only about the first beam-section axis. The n1 and n2 correspond with the 1 and 2 directions respectively when creating your profile (Figure 2)

Figure 2: the 1 and 2 direction corresponding with n1 and n2...