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*Section cuts* are useful for obtaining the resultant forces which act within a specified section-cut plane.

[Section cuts|kb:Section cut] may be defined using any of the following methods:

# Define a quadrilateral cutting plane
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# Define a group
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# Draw the section cut within the graphical user interface

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Each of these section-cut types may be implemented through the procedures described in the following sections:


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h1. 1. Define a quadrilateral cutting plane

Section-cut forces are the sum of [joint|kb:Joint] forces for all joints which are:

* Included in the section-cut group;

* Within structural objects entirely cut by the quadrilateral plane; and

* Located on the specified side of the section cut.

Joint forces are then summed about the location specified as the Results Reported at the Location parameter.

The procedure for defining a quadrilateral cutting plane is as follows:

* Launch the Section Cut Data form by selecting Define > Section Cuts > Add Section Cut.

* Select Quadrilateral Cutting Planes, then define the plane by specifying its joint coordinates, as shown in Figure 1:

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!Section_cut_data_-_quadrilateral_cutting_planes_SAP2000_V12.0.2_form_tutorial.png|align=center,border=0!

{center-text}Figure 1 - Define a quadrilateral cutting plane{center-text}

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* For assistance with additional fields on this form, press F1 to access [Context Help|doc:Context Help].

* Once analysis is run, section-cut forces are available in tabular format by selecting Display > Show Tables > Analysis Results > Structure Output > Other Output Items > Table: Section Cut Forces - Analysis, as shown in Figure 2:

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!Choose_tables_for_display_section_cut_forces_SAP2000_V12.0.2_form_tutorial.png|align=center,border=0!

{center-text}Figure 2 - Section-cut forces{center-text}


h1. 2. Define a group

Section cuts may also be defined by specifying a group of structural objects. Here, section-cut forces represent the sum of [joint|kb:Joint] forces within those [frame|kb:Frame], [shell|kb:Shell], and [link|kb:Link] objects which are included in the group. As shown in Figure 2, the Section Cut Group must include All joints for which forces should be summed.

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!Section_cut_data_-_by_groups_SAP2000_V12.0.2_form_tutorial.png|align=center,border=0!

{center-text}Figure 2 - Section-cut group{center-text}


h1. 3. Draw the section cut within the graphical user interface

Section cuts may be drawn within the graphical user interface by selecting Draw > Draw Section Cut. Section-cut forces will then be displayed on the Section Cut Forces and Stresses form shown in Figure 3:

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!Section_cut_stresses_and_forces_SAP2000_V12.0.2_form.png|align=center,border=0!

{center-text}Figure 3 - Directly drawn section cuts{center-text}


h1. See Also

* [Section cuts|kb:Section cut] section

* [Context Help|doc:Context Help] (Output Conventions)

* [Context Help|doc:Context Help] (Example Problems B, N, and S)