Results Along Line

Created by: Kris Sathia Document Revision Number : 1.0

Introduction

This document contains information on the various terms that are specific to the Results Along Line
facility of the Plate page in the post-processing mode.

Local Axis system

The figure below shows the convention for local axes that the various results are based on.
The local Z axis is the vector corresponding to the cross product of local X and local Y.

Let us first examine some of the terms that appear under the selection box named “Stress Type”.
Specifically, we are interested in the terms highlighted in the following figure, namely, SLX, SLY, SLXY,
MLX, MLY, MLXY, QLX and QLY.

To help in the understanding of these terms, let us look at the following figures. The first of those shows
a wall with a plane or line cut at some height above its base. It is presumed that the wall is modeled
using plate elements.
The advantage of using the cube in understanding these stresses will become apparent soon. An
enlarged view of the cube is shown next.
The edges AD, BC, EH and FG are parallel to the cut line. The edges AB, CD, EF and GH are along the
thickness of the element or wall.

Definitions

SLX

This is the normal stress acting on the face CDHG or ABFE. The direction in which the stress acts is along
the line or plane that is cut. In other words, it is perpendicular to the faces CDHG and ABFE. That is why
it is a normal stress.
SLY

This is the normal stress acting on the face EFGH or ABCD. The direction in which the stress acts is
perpendicular to the line or plane that is cut. On the cube, the stress is along a direction that is parallel
to the vertical sides CDHG or ABFE.
SLXY

This is the shear stress acting along the face EFGH or ABCD. The direction in which the stress acts is
parallel to the line or plane that is cut (which is why it is a shear stress). So, on the cube, the stress is
along (parallel) to the lines EH or FG.
MLX

This is the moment that produces bending stresses which are normal to the faces CDHG or ABFE. The
vector associated with this moment is perpendicular to the cut line (which also means, parallel to the
edges CG or BF).
MLY

This is the moment that produces bending stresses which are normal to the faces ABCD or EFGH. The
vector associated with this moment is parallel to the cut line (which also means, parallel to the edges EH
or FG).
MLXY

This is equivalent to the MXY term reported for individual elements. If a spear is inserted into our
infinitesimal cube in such a way that it pierces the ABCD and EFGH faces, and we hold that spear on the
2 sides and twist it in opposite directions like wringing a wet towel, the resulting moment is MLXY.
QLX

This is the out-of-plane shear stress acting on the faces ABFE and DCGH. The direction in which the
stress acts is perpendicular to the plane of the wall. In other words, it is parallel to the edges CD and GH.
That is why it is a shear stress.
QLY

This is the out-of-plane shear stress acting on the faces ABCD and EFGH. The direction in which the
stress acts is perpendicular to the plane of the wall. In other words, it is parallel to the edges EF and GH.
That is why it is a shear stress.
Next, let us look at the terms reported under the tab “Total Force”

For the sake of this example, the finite element model of the structure, which in this case is a wall, is as
shown in the next figure.
Each rectangle in the above figure is one element. It is a uniform mesh consisting of 4 elements along
the length of the wall, and 10 elements along the height. If we assume that the value of “Max No Div” is
5,
the location of the points along the line will be as shown in the next figure. The points are shown with
dots.
The starting and ending locations of the cut on the wall are identified using points A and B in the
previous figure. Total length of the cut is the distance between A and B = L.

Assuming that all elements have equal dimensions, and the line cuts the elements at right angles to their
vertical edges, the distance between adjacent points is equal to 1/5th the length of horizontal edge for
each element that the plane cuts through. Let “d” be the variable to represent that distance. A
magnified view of one those elements is shown next.

The points are numbered from 1 through 6.

We define “w = influence distance” as the length over which the stress or moment is assumed to be
constant. Each of the six points has an influence distance. For the outer points (1 and 6), it is equal to
d/2. For the interior points (2, 3, 4 and 5), it is equal to “d”.
Let the thickness of the element be defined using the variable “t”.

So, the various terms reported under the Total Force tab are obtained in the following manner.

Fx (Line)

At each division point along the cut section, a quantity A is calculated in the following manner:

A = SLX * w * t

where

w = the influence distance of the point

t = thickness of the element

The "A" for all the division points is added up, then divided by "L" (the length of the cut line). The result
is reported as Fx.

Fx = Sum(SLX*w*t)/ L

Hence, Fx has units of Force per unit length.

Fy (Line)

At each division point along the cut section, a quantity B is calculated in the following manner:
B = SLY * w * t

w = the influence distance of the point

t = thickness of the element

The "B" for all such division points is added up. The result is reported as Fy.

Fy = Sum(SLY*w*t)

This has units of force.

Fxy (Line)

At each division point along the cut section, a quantity C is calculated in the following manner:

C = SLXY * w * t

where

w = the influence distance of the point

t = thickness of the element

The "C" for all the division points is added up, then divided by "L" (the length of the cut line). The result
is reported as Fxy.

Fxy = Sum(SLXY*w*t)/L

Hence, Fxy has units of Force per unit length.

Mx (Line)

At each division point along the cut section, a quantity D is calculated in the following manner:

D = MLX * w

where

w = the influence distance of the point

The "D" for all the division points is added up, then divided by "L" (the length of the cut line). The result
is reported as Mx.

Mx = Sum(MLX*w)/L

Hence, Mx has units of Moment per unit length.

My (Line)

At each division point along the cut section, a quantity E is calculated in the following manner:

E = MLY * w

where

w = the influence distance of the point

The "E" for all the division points is added up. The result is reported as My.

My = Sum(MLY*w)

Hence, My has units of Moment.

Mz (Line)

Mz is the in-plane moment on the wall. It is caused by the SLY stresses along the cut.

At each division point along the cut section, a quantity F is calculated in the following manner:

F = SLY * w * t * c

where

SLY = Normal stress along local Y as described earlier

w = the influence distance of the point

t = thickness of the element

c = Lever Arm = Distance from center of the line to the division point

The "F" for all the division points is added up algebraically. The result is reported as Mz.

The sign of “F” is governed by 2 aspects:

The sign of the SLY stress

Which side of the center of the line the division point is located.
Mxy (Line)

At each division point along the cut section, a quantity G is calculated in the following manner:

G = MLXY * w

Where

MLXY = Out-of-plane twisting moment described earlier

w = the influence distance of the point

The "G" for all the division points is added up. The result is reported as Mxy.

Mxy = Sum(MLXY*w)

Hence, Mxy has units of Moment.

Qx (Line)

At each division point along the cut section, a quantity H is calculated in the following manner:

H = QLX * w * t

where

QLX = Out-of-plane shear stress described earlier

w = the influence distance of the point

t = thickness of the element

The "H" for all the division points is added up, then divided by "L" (the length of the cut line). The result
is reported as Qx.

Qx = Sum(QLX* w * t)/L

Hence, Qx has units of Force per length.

Qy (Line)

At each division point along the cut section, a quantity K is calculated in the following manner:

K = QLY * w * t

where

QLY = Out-of-plane shear stress described earlier

w = the influence distance of the point

t = thickness of the element

The "K" for all the division points is added up. The result is reported as Qy.

Qy = Sum(QLY * w * t)

Hence, Qy has units of Force.

A figure illustrating these forces and moments is also available in section 1.6.3 of the STAAD.Pro
Technical Reference manual.
Limitations of this feature

This feature works best when none of the element nodes lie on the cut line or the cut plane. An element
node is usually the meeting point of 2 or more elements. At an element node, two elements are unlikely
to have the same value for a stress or a moment. Hence, averaging of results is required, but averaging
makes sense only if all elements meeting at that node have the same local axis directions. Further, if the
elements meeting at that node are in different planes, averaging makes no sense at all for certain
results.

Hence, it is best to cut the line or plane at some distance away from the node. In a vertical wall for
example, cut the line through the middle of a line of elements if possible.

To summarize, the points to keep in mind when using this feature are:

1) You can get accurate results only when the plane of the cut passes through element centres.

2) The results get less accurate as the plane approaches the nodes of the elements.

3) You can get better results if you use a larger number of points for the term "Max No Div".