Graphics Window

The graphics area displays a representation of the geometric layout of the section.

All sections display the following items:
Item Description
Local origin of the beamsection
Section Centroid
Shear Center
Element Axis
Standard sections display the geometric representation of the section based on the parameter values, which are also listed on the screen.
Figure 1.


For shell sections each part is drawn with lines connecting the dots that show the section's vertices.
Figure 2.


Solid sections can be created and edited using the same tools as a shell section, and the mesh that is used for the section calculations is displayed.
Figure 3.


Since generic sections do not inherently have any shape, only a grey box is shown. The centroid and shear center graphics location will update.
Figure 4.


Display Stress Recovery Locations

Toggle the display of stress recovery location points and/or prop IDs that are already defined within the property solver cards.

Stress recovery points for shells, solids, and generic sections are only supported in the Nastran, Radioss, and OptiStruct user profiles.

  1. To access these parameters, click in the top-right of the window then select Parameters > Display.
  2. To accept your changes, click Update before you exit the dialog.
    Figure 5.


Modify Grid Parameters in the Graphics Area

You can change the size of the background grid and vertices in the graphics area, as well as adjust the behavior of your cursor when it is near snap tolerance lines, by modifying the grid parameters.

  1. Click in the top-right of the window then select Parameters > Display.
  2. Modify the grid parameters.
  3. In the Grid Size field, enter the size of the background grid in the graphics area.
  4. In the Snap Size field, enter the incremental movement of your cursor over grid points in the graphics area. If your cursor is not snapping to the nearest grid points when you move your mouse in the graphics area, increase the snap size.
  5. In the Point Size field, enter the size of the vertices in the graphics area. Increasing the point size makes it easier to select an existing grid point when you are creating a part.
  6. To accept your changes, click Update before exiting the dialog.