SignConventions

Description

The variables of a component of this library can be accessed in theusual way. However, since most of these variables are basically elementsof vectors, i.e., have a direction, the question arises how thesigns of variables shall be interpreted. The basic idea is explainedat hand of the following figure:

First, one has to definea positive direction of this line, called axis of movement.In the top part of the figure this is characterized by an arrowdefined as axis of movement. The simple rule is now:If a variable of a component is positive and can be interpreted asthe element of a vector (e.g., force or velocity vector), thecorresponding vector is directed into the positive directionof the axis of movement. In the following figure, the right-mostmass of the figure above is displayed with the positivevector direction displayed according to this rule:

The cut-force m2.flange_a.fof the right mass is directed into thedirection of movement if the values are positive. Similarly,the velocity m2.v of the right massis also directed into thedirection of movement if the values are positive