Forms: Section Cuts
Use the Define menu > Section Cuts command to obtain resultant forces acting at section cuts through a model. Define section cuts before or after an analysis is run; however, it is safest to wait until after the analysis has been run. Typically do not define section cuts, and more importantly, the groups used in the section cut definition, until all manual meshing of the model (if any) has been completed. If the groups are defined before manual meshing, some of the point objects that should be in the group may not yet be created.
Define section cuts as follows:
Manually mesh the model where necessary using the Assign menu > Frame > Frame Auto Mesh Options command, Assign menu > Frame > Frame Floor Meshing Options command, Assign menu > Shell > Floor Auto Mesh Options command, and the Assign menu > Shell > Wall Auto Mesh Options command.
Define the group to be used to specify the extent of the section cut as follows.
Select the objects that are to be part of the group.
Select the Assign menu > Assign Objects to Groups command.
Select an existing Group name or click the Add button to add a new name; click the name and type a new one to change it if necessary
Click the Define menu > Section Cuts command to access the Section Cuts form. Use the buttons on this form to add, modify, or delete section cuts.
Add Section Cut button. Click this button to access the Section Cuts Data form and define a new section cut.
Modify/Show Section Cut button. Click this button to modify a previously defined section.
Highlight the name of the section cut in the Section Cuts area of the Section Cuts form.
Click the Modify/Show Section Cut button to access the Section Cuts Data form.
Use the drop-down lists and edit boxes on the Section Cuts Data form to modify the section cut as necessary.
Delete Section Cut button. Click this button to delete a section cut.
Highlight the name of the section cut in the Section Cuts area of the Section Cuts form.
Click the Delete Section Cut button to access the Section Cuts Data form.