FBD Panel Plot

Display normal and shear loads of panel structural members.

From the Post ribbon, click the Panel Plot tool.
Figure 1.


Restriction: Only available in the Nastran and OptiStruct solvers.
Use the guide bar to perform the following workflow:
  1. Select the option Panel plot.
  2. Select panel entities.
  3. Set the options for the panel plot (see below).
  4. If an envelope is needed, select the option Create envelope and select loadcases.
  5. Click Play, .

    This display a panel's normal load and tangential loads. A legend is displayed that controls the display status, as well as the color of the loads.

Figure 2.


Panel Plot Options

Evaluate by
Select what type of data must be shown.
Tolerance
Loads with an absolute value lower than the tolerance are not displayed.
Envelope Options
If the algebraic type is selected, the tool considers positive and negative values to build up maximum and minimum envelopes.
If the absolute type is selected, the tool considers absolute values to build up maximum and minimum envelopes.
Values inside parenthesis in the graphic refer to the loadcase and simulation in that sequence.
Graphic Options
Show values
Activate the checkbox to display values.
Arrow Length (%)
Scales panel plot vectors for visualization.
Normal Load at
Select if the normal load will be shown at the center or at the corner of element edges.
Numeric format
Defines the numeric format of the values shown.
Summary Tables
Creates tables with normal and tangential loads for one or multiple panels and for one or multiple loadcases.
The summary table shows all normal and tangential loads for panel entities.
Figure 3.


The min/max table shows minimum and maximum values for normal and tangential loads.
Figure 4.


Using the guide bar, complete the following workflow:
  1. Select the option Report table.
  2. Select panel entities.
  3. Select loadcases.
  4. Click to set the options for the panel plot.
  5. Click Play, .