Select the analysis case and analysis step, and create the section plane to calculate the local direction member force sum.

Check [With text] and click the [Plot] button to output the section force component at the calculated centroid of the section as a text file, and to display the define plane on the screen.

The Local Direction Force Sum is a useful function that can automatically calculate the section force of a Solid or Plate element. This function calculates the internal force sum in each direction at the centroid of an arbitrary plane on a Solid or Plate element, using the internal force of each node on the plane. The Local Direction Force Sum is useful when computing the member forces to be applied in structural design, after detailed analysis on a particular section of the structure.

The arbitrary section is determined from the intersection between the structure, composed of a Plate or Solid element, and the infinite plane created by selecting 3 arbitrary points. The centroid is automatically calculated for this determined section and the section force, in the same direction as the frame result, is calculated using the stress results of that analysis step.

If a structure that is not a considered exists in the specified plane, the mesh set corresponding to that structure needs to be deactivated before specifying the plane.