Question
Why in plate analysis result, the stress contour is unsymmetrical?
Answer
This is the result of element directions i.e. orientation of the z-axis not being the same. The differing elements could have local axes that are supplementary to each other i.e. at 180 degrees to each other.
From main menu select View > Display > Element > Check on Local Axis
In such a case, to rectify this the “Change Element Parameters’ option could be used.
Model > Element > Change Element Parameters > Parameter
Among the options available the easiest way out is to align the incorrect element’s local axis to the correctly aligned element, using ‘Align Element Local’
Select the element to be modified and then enter the element number which is the standard element or the reference element for local axis orientation and Click on apply.