Frame Element Internal Forces Output Conventions Page 1 of 1

Frame Element Internal Forces Output Conventions

The frame internal forces are:

P, the axial force

V2, the shear force in the 1-2 plane

V3, the shear force in the 1-3 plane

T, the axial torque (about the 1-axis)

M2, the bending moment in the 1-3 plane (about the 2-axis)

M3, the bending moment in the 1-2 plane (about the 3-axis)

These internal forces and moments are present at every cross-section along the length of the frame.

For each load pattern and load combination the frame internal forces and moments are computed and reported at each frame output station.

For frame output displayed in a tabular form on the computer screen, printed to a printer or printed to a file, the locations of the output stations are
identified by the absolute distance to the station measured from the i-end of the frame.

The sign convention for frame internal forces is illustrated in the figure below. This sign convention can be described by defining the concept of
positive and negative faces of an object. Consider a section cut through the object in the 2-3 plane. At this section the positive 1 face is the face
whose outward normal (arrow that is perpendicular to the section and pointing away from the section) is in the positive local 1 direction. At this
same section the negative 1 face is one whose outward normal is in the negative local 1 direction. The positive 2 and 3 faces are those faces with
outward normals in the positive local 2 and 3 directions, respectively, from the neutral axis. Note the following about the frame internal forces:

Positive internal forces (P, V2 and V3) and positive axial torque (T) acting on a positive 1 face are oriented in the positive direction of the
corresponding object local coordinate axis. For example, when V2 acting on a positive 1 face is positive, it is oriented in the direction of the
positive local 2-axis.

Positive internal forces (P, V2 and V3) and positive axial torque (T) acting on a negative 1 face are oriented in the negative direction of the
corresponding object local coordinate axis. For example, when V2 acting on a negative 1 face is positive, it is oriented in the direction of the
negative local 2-axis.

Positive M2 bending moments cause compression on the positive 3 face and tension on the negative 3 face.

Positive M3 bending moments cause compression on the positive 2 face and tension on the negative 2 face.

When end offsets along the length of the frame are present, the internal forces and moments are output at the faces of the supports rather
than the ends of the object. No output is produced within the end offset length.

The right-hand rule applies in the figure for determining the sense of the moments shown by the double arrows.

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