Define cross section orientation

Video: Orient a beam cross section

After assigning a cross section to the mesh, you may need to change the orientation of the mesh on the cross section.

In the following example, suppose the goal is to orient the beam mesh such that the cross section is aligned with the solid geometry that it represents.

(1) Solid geometry; (2) beam section

You can orient a beam mesh using one of these methods:

• Orientation Vector

• Orientation Node

Orientation Vector method

The Orientation Vector method lets you orient the Y-axis or Z-axis of the beam mesh to an axis of the absolute coordinate system or to a direction inferred from geometry. In Abaqus, the axes are n1 or n2.

1. In the Simulation Navigator, right-click the beam mesh and choose Edit Mesh Associated Data.The beam editing display shows you:Beam section curves, displayed at the ends of the mesh.Element coordinate system.Beam mesh, including ball graphics that represent the ends of each element.Orientation vector.(1) orientation vector; (2) element coordinate system (3) beam mesh (4) section curves

2. In the Mesh Associated Data dialog box, accept the default Method of Orientation Vector.

3. From the Element Axis list, choose Y. This selection specifies the axis of the element coordinate system to orient. Note: The orientation is defined with respect to the first element in a mesh, and then the software transforms it to the other elements in the mesh. In the dialog box, the Select Element (1) option is automatically set to the first element of the mesh for which you are editing the mesh associated data.

4. Next to Specify Vector, select an axis of the absolute coordinate system to which to orient the cross section. For example, to orient the element Y-axis to the X-axis of the absolute coordinate system, select XC-axis .Or, click Inferred Vector to infer the axis by selecting geometry in the graphics window.For example, you can select a face in the solid geometry that is normal to the intended direction of the cross section orientation axis. In the example, the top face at is selected.The software orients the element Y-axis to the normal of the selected face.You can then click Reverse Direction if necessary.

Orientation Node method

You can orient the cross section using a third node that, along with the first and second nodes of the element, defines the orientation vector for the section.

1. Choose Menu→Insert→Node→Create to create a node to use as the orientation node. The orientation vector is created from the first node in the beam element to the orientation node. In this example, the node is inserted on the geometry at .

2. Click OK to close the Node Create dialog box.

3. In the Simulation Navigator, right-click the 1D mesh and choose Edit Mesh Associated Data.

4. In the Mesh Associated Data dialog box, in the Method list, choose Orientation Node.

5. Select the node you created in the previous step.In the example, the node at is selected.The X-Y plane of the cross section orientation is defined by the vector from the first node in the beam element to the orientation node that you specified. In the example, this is the vector from to .

How do I

Create a 1D mesh

Beam cross section workflow

Create a standard cross section

Create a cross section from the face of a solid

Create a cross section from a sketch

Create a cross section by entering properties

Assign a cross section to a beam mesh

Offset a cross section

Improving performance for narrow beam cross sections

Learn more

1D meshing

1D element coating meshes

Ensuring consistent 1D element orientation during mesh creation

Creating beam cross sections

End releases for 1D elements

Displaying beam cross sections

Reusable beam cross sections

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Define cross section orientation, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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