Page History

{live-template:Tutorial}

\\

*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
\\
\\
# Define a group
\\
\\
# Draw the section cut within the graphical user interface

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

\\

{on-this-page}


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 during section-cut definition usingas 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:

\\

!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}

\\

* 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 throughby selecting Display > Show Tables > Analysis Results > Structure Output > Other Output Items > Table: Section Cut Forces - Analysis, as shown in Figure 2:

\\

!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 Thecuts proceduremay isalso very similar to defining section cuts by quadrilateral cutting planes, except for that you specifybe defined by specifying a group of elements that will define the section cutstructural objects. Then, SAP2000 calculates theHere, section -cut forces byrepresent summingthe thesum elementof [joint|kb:Joint] forces fromwithin thethose [frame|kb:Frame], [shell|kb:Shell], and [link members|kb:Link] objects which are included in the group. thatAs definesshown thein sectionFigure cut.2, Thethe sectionSection cutCut groupGroup must also include all theAll joints fromfor which the element joint forces should be summed up:.

\\

!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 Anothercuts alternativemay is to draw section cutsbe drawn within the graphical user interface by usingselecting "Draw > Draw Section Cut". menu command. This Section-cut forces will displaythen the section cut forces directlybe displayed on the "Section Cut Forces &and Stresses" form shown below.in Figure 3:

\\

!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] page in the Technical Knowledgebasesection

* F1 context help, Topic "[Context Help|doc:Context Help] (Output Conventions")

* [Context Help|doc:Context Help] (Example Problems B, N, S (available from F1 context help, Topic "Example Problems") illustrate the use of section cutsand S)