Form: Slab Forces/Stresses
Toolbar Button:
Use the Display menu > Show Slab Forces/Stresses command to display in the active window the slab forces or stresses. This command will be available only if the Run menu > Run Analysis & Design command has been executed.
Click the Display menu > Show Slab Forces/Stresses command to access the Slab Forces/Stresses form. On that form, select options and enter data in the following areas:
Load Case/Load Combination: Choose either the Load Case or Load Combination option to select which slab forces/stresses to display. For the selected option, chose from the adjacent drop-down list a previously defined load case or load combination, respectively. The slab forces/stresses displayed will be associated with this load case/combination.
Note: Any load case defined with a load case type of Modal will not be available from the Load Case drop-down list; slab forces/stresses are not displayed for modal cases.
Display Options: Choose the appropriate option to display contours on the undeformed shape, the deformed shape, or in extruded form. For any setting, when the mouse pointer is moved over a specific location on the model in a Plan View, SAFE will report the slab force or stress value for that location at the cursor and on the left side of the status bar.
Note: With the active window in a 3D or Elevation View and Display Contours on Deformed Shape selected, click the button on the status bar to animate the deformed shape of the model. Animation speed is controlled by the slider bar next to the animation button. Click the button on the status bar to stop the animation. SAFE includes sound with the animation. Use the Options menu > Animation Sound command to toggle sound on and off.
Scaling: Scaling options in this area will be available only if one of the check boxes is marked in the Display Options area. Selecting Automatic will automatically set the scale factor. Selecting User Defined lets the user scale the deformed shape or the extruded shape. If automatic was selected previously, the scale factor edit box will show the scale factor used by the automatic option.
Contour Averaging at Nodes: Select if slab forces/stresses should be averaged by Objects, by Selected Groups (as set by groups), or not averaged at all.
by Object - When this option is selected, stresses for the area elements associated with each area object are separately averaged. That is, the stresses for all are elements associated with area object 1 are averaged. Then the stresses for all area elements associated with area object 2 are averaged and so on.
by Selected Groups - When this option is selected, stresses for the area elements associated with all area objects in each selected group are separately averaged. Click the Set Groups button to select the group. For example, assume Group 1 includes area objects 1A and 1 B and Group 2 includes area objects 2A and 2B. The stresses for all area elements associated with the area objects in Group 1 (i.e., area objects 1A and 1B) are averaged. Then the stresses for all area elements associated with the area objects in Group 2 (i.e., area objects 2A and 2B) are averaged.
Contour Range: Specify the Minimum and Maximum contour ranges in the edit boxes to limit the slab force or stress contours displayed. The default values of zero indicate that the full range will be shown.
Component Type: Select to display the resultant forces, or the stresses at the midsurface or at the top face or at the bottom face.
Note: Slab stresses (not forces) have different values at the top and bottom of the slab as a result of bending. However, SAFE will display only one stress contour at a time, so if you have asked for a display of Stresses Top Face, but are looking at the bottom of the slab in a 3D view, you will still see the top face stress contour.
Component: If Resultant Forces is set in the Component Type area, select the slab force, moment or shear to be displayed. If FMax or FMin is selected in the Component area, check the Show Fmax/Fmin as Arrows check box to display the forces as arrows. If MMax or MMin is selected in the Component area, check the Show Mmax/Mmin as Arrows check box to display the moments as arrows. If VMax is selected in the Component area, check the Show Vmax as Load Flow check box to display the shear using flow arrows.
If Stresses Midsurface or Stresses Top Face or Stresses Bottom Face is selected in the Component Type area, choose the desired stress component to be displayed. If SMax or SMin is selected in the Component area, check the Show Smax/Smin as Arrows check box to display the stresses as directional arrows. If SMaxV is selected in the Component area, check the Show SmaxV as Load Flow check box to display the shear stress using flow arrows.
Click the Apply button to update the display. This form will remain open until the Close button is clicked.
Note: Slab Forces/Stresses displays also can be accessed by expanding the Slab Forces item under Named Displays on the Display tab in the Model Explorer window.