Input
After selecting the "Result Beam/Line" member type, it is necessary to set additional parameters. There are four options available for defining the integration areas for stresses and forces:
- In a block with a square base: A square integration area is used, the centroid of which is located in the member axis.
- In a cuboid: A rectangular integration area is used, of which the centroid may vary.
- In a cylinder: A circular integration area is used, of which the centroid is located in the member axis.
- From listed objects: Only those elements for evaluation are used that are in the list of "Include Objects" and are within the possible effective area (see Image 2).
If the integration area overlaps the objects that should not be considered, these objects can be defined in the "Excluded Objects" list.
Effective Area of Result Beam/Line
The Result Beam/Line can only provide results of the elements located within a rectangular axis of the member start and end. None of the elements outside these boundaries is considered.
This is illustrated in Image 2: The results do not apply to the areas marked in red. The turquoise areas were manually modeled as auxiliary areas and represent the boundaries of the result beam.
Cross-Section
For determining the internal forces of the member, it is irrelevant which cross-section is used. If the result beam is only used to determine internal forces, any cross-section can be applied. Alternatively, you can use a "Result Line" instead.
However, if further design is to be performed using add-on modules such as Steel Design or Concrete Design, the cross-section plays an important role and should be defined precisely.
Member Division Results
Since the distribution of internal forces may not be very reliable, it is recommended to set a higher number of member divisions in the "Mesh Settings" dialog box to improve the accuracy of the result diagrams.
Result Beam/Line Position
For the internal forces N, Vy, and Vz, the parallel distance of the result beam/line to the centroid of the "Include Objects" does not matter. Therefore, if only the axial and shear forces are to be evaluated, the result beam/line can be modeled on or above the structure to achieve a clear display.
However, for the internal forces Mt, My, and Mz, it is crucial to place the result beam/line in the centroid of the included objects. If the result beam/line is not placed at the centroid, axial forces at the FE mesh points are transferred to the member axis. This transfer generates additional moments equal to the axial force multiplied by the perpendicular distance to the result beam/line axis.
Knowledge Base