Free Body cut in shell - Conceptual advice required - Abaqus 6.14

[matcunni]

Hi! My name is Matias, this is my first post here,, I need some assistance concerning free body cuts in Abaqus 6.14.

I did a thorough search through the web and the documentation, but I just keep finding the same indications, and my problem is more "conceptual".

When the model is a solid, like a prismatic bar, I understand that the normal vector in the cut plane represents the resultant force that the part after the cut does upon the part before the cut.

The thing is that I have a model of shells, and I would like to know the components of the forces acting in a plane perpendicular to one of them,

I don't understand the results that I see in my screen, neither am sure if I'm selecting the right elements/nodes..

Someone could give me a hand? I would really appreciate it..

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the possibly bad english..

Matias.

 

[corus]

If you have a line in the model you're interested in then partition the model along that line.
You'll be able to select that particular region that contains that line much easier that way.
In that way you'll be able to see the stresses or forces along that line much easier then.
Note that introducing a partition in a surface may require you to add further partitions in other regions
to tidy up the regions to get structured regions everywhere, if you can.

 

[matcunni]

Thanks corus!

When you say that in that way I'll be able to see the stresses or forces along that line, you mean that I'll be able to select the nodes over that line and see/plot the stresses/forces?
This week I started to use more partitions and I think I'm getting them. (At least I'm able to build more quality meshes)

Nevertheless, I still want to know how to use free body cuts with shells.. And to understand the meaning of the forces and moments that appear on display when I use this tool.