BeamTool

Mechanical APDL Function

Use the BeamTool to create beam cross sections. You may select a predefined cross section shape or define an arbitrary shape.

ID

The ID number of the cross section [SECTYPE].

Name

The name of the cross section, 8 alphanumeric characters maximum [SECTYPE].

Sub-Type

The cross section subtype. Clicking the Sub-Type button displays a drop-down list of predefined shapes.

  • RECT creates a rectangular cross section.

  • QUAD creates a quadrilateral cross section.

  • CSOLID creates a circular solid cross section.

  • CTUBE creates a circular hollow cross section.

  • CHAN creates a U-shaped cross section.

  • I creates an I-shaped cross section.

  • Z creates a Z-shaped cross section.

  • L creates an L-shaped cross section.

  • T creates a T-shaped cross section.

  • HATS creates a hat-shaped cross section.

  • HREC creates a hollow rectangular cross section.

  • ASEC creates a user-defined shape for a cross section.

Section Offsets
Offset To

The section offset for the cross section [SECOFFSET]. Selecting the Offset To button displays a drop-down list with the following options:

  • Centroid: Beam node will be offset to centroid (default).

  • Shear Cen: Beam node will be offset to Shear Center.

  • Origin: Beam node will be offset to origin of the cross section.

  • Location: Beam node is offset to the user-specified location set in the Offset-Y and Offset-Z fields:

Offset-Y, Offset-Z

Values that locate the node with respect to the default origin of cross section when the Location option is chosen.

Section Shape

The shape of the cross section.

Dimension Labels

Geometry information for each dimension [SECDATA]:

Rectangular Cross Section Dimensions

  • B = Width

  • H = Height

  • Nb = Number of cells along width, default = 2

  • Nh = Number of cells along height, default = 2
Quadrilaterial Cross Section Dimensions

  • yI, zI, yJ, zJ, yK, zK, yL, zL = Coordinate location of various points

  • Ng = Number of cells along g, default = 2

  • Nh = Number of cells along h, default = 2

    Note:  Degeneration to triangle is permitted by specifying the same coordinates for nodes along an edge.
Circular Solid Cross Section Dimensions

  • R = Radius

  • N = Number of divisions along the circumference

  • T = Number of divisions through the radius
Hollow Circular Cross Section Dimensions

  • Ri = Inner radius of the tube

  • Ro = Outer radius of the tube

  • N = Number of cells along the circumference; default = 8
Channel Cross Section Dimensions

  • W1, W2 = Lengths of the flanges

  • W3 = Overall depth

  • t1, t2 = Flange thicknesses

  • t3 = Web thickness

I-shaped Cross Section Dimensions

  • W1,W2 = Width of the top and bottom flanges

  • W3 = Overall depth

  • t1,t2 = Flange thicknesses

  • t3 = Web thickness
Z-shaped Cross Section Dimensions

  • W1,W2 = Flange lengths

  • W3 = Overall depth

  • t1,t2 = Flange thicknesses

  • t3 = Stem thickness
L-shaped Cross Section Dimensions

  • W1, W2 = Leg lengths

  • t1, t2 = Leg thicknesses
T-shaped Cross Section Dimensions

  • W1 = Flange width

  • W2 = Overall depth

  • t1 = Flange thickness

  • t2 = Stem thickness
Hat-shaped Cross Section Dimensions

  • W1,W2 = Width of the brim

  • W3 = Width of the top of the hat

  • W4 = Overall depth

  • t1,t2 = Thickness of the brim

  • t3 = Thickness of the top of the hat

  • t4,t5 = Web thicknesses
Hollow Rectangular Cross Section Dimensions

  • W1 = Outer width of the box

  • W2 = Outer height of the box

  • t1, t2, t3, t4 = Wall thicknesses
Arbitrary Cross Section Dimensions

  • A = Area of section

  • Iyy = Moment of inertia about the y axis

  • Iyz = Product of inertia

  • Izz = Moment of inertia about the z axis

  • Iw = Warping constant

  • J = Torsional constant

  • CGy = Y coordinate of centroid

  • CGz = Z coordinate of centroid

  • SHy = y coordinate of shear center

  • SHz = z coordinate of shear center

The SECPLOT command cannot display the plot of an arbitrary section (ASEC) subtype. However, consider issuing the /ESHAPE command to display the orientation of the section.
Mesh Refinement

Sets mesh refinement level for thin-walled sections. Values are 0 (the default - no mesh refinement) to 5 (high level of mesh refinement).

Action Buttons

Preview: Displays a sample cross section using the specified shape and dimension information without applying this information to the database.

Meshview: Same as Preview except section mesh is also displayed.