What are section points

[flyforever85]

I'm trying to create a stress report from Field Output of a 1D model made of beams. I select the stress component I need and generate the report and for each element I get 4 different values, each in the same position but with different section points. The stress value for each of them is really different and I'm not sure how to pick the value I need to use on a 2D model of the same joint. I checked the documentation but can't find a formal definition and use.

Thank you!

 

[FEA way]

When you use beam elements with predefined profiles, Abaqus calculates output such as stress and strain at these points so that you know the variation across the whole section of the beam. Each predefined beam profile has its own set of section points, you can find schemes showing their locations in the „Beam cross-section library” part of the Elements Guide. For used defined beam profiles you have to manually specify locations of section points. In case of shells section points are used to calculate output across the thickness of the shell.

 

[flyforever85]

THank you very much for your answer, I completely understand now. Now the confusion moved on: which point to select for a 2D analysis?

These are my values (consider my beam is a pipe and I have 4 section points at 0, 90, 180 and 270 deg)
0: 28 ksi
90: 32
180: 6
270: 68

Shall I go for the worst stress per beam?

 

[FEA way]

In general yes. It depends how the beam is loaded. Default stress output for pipe profile of 2D beam is at the bottom and top section points. Try plotting beam stress to see how it’s distributed across the profile (see the „Producing a contour plot of linear beam section stresses” chapter of the documentation for detailed instruction how to do it).

 

[flyforever85]

In the past I analyzed an honeycomb floor as single shell face with a top bottom and intermediate layer but I couldn't figure out how to check the different layers in the post-processing. Now I found out how to do that and I'm amazed!!!

Thank you for all the info, the rendering of the stress in the beams really helped me a lot.

And also I found out I'm really dumb: do you remember the other post where I asked what to do in case a button stops working? Well, apparently the button was working just fine but I had the brilliant idea to move that pop-up window at the bottom of the screen because prob I need to make some space. I then forgot and when I clicked again on the same button, the pop-up window appeared where I left it: below my "attention" line, so I thought nothing was happening. Oh well, another mistery resolved!