Function
Declare a local coordinate system for selected nodes to enter boundary conditions or produce output for reactions.
Call
From the Main Menu select [Node/Element] tab > [Node Detail] group > [Nodes Table] > [Node local Axis]
Input
Click the [...] button to the right of Node Local Axis : Display the Node Local Axis Table
Options
Add/Replace : Enter or replace a local coordinate system for selected nodes
Delete : Delete previously entered node's local coordinate system for selected nodes
Define Local Axis
Input Method : Select a method of specifying the node's local coordinate system.
Angle : Specify 3 angles of rotation to define the node's local coordinate system
about x : Angle of rotation about GCS X-axis
about y : Angle of rotation about y'-axis rotated about X-axis
about z : Angle of rotation about z"-axis rotated about X- and y'-axes
3 points : Specify 3 nodal coordinates to define the node's local coordinate system
P0 : Coordinates of the origin of the node's local coordinate system
P1 : Coordinates of an arbitrary node on the node's local x-axis
P2 : Coordinates of a node moved from P1, parallel to the node's local y-axis
Vector : Specify 2 vectors to define the node's local coordinate system
V1 : x-direction vector starting from the origin of the node's local coordinate system
V2 : Vector starting from the origin of the node's local coordinate system to the point P2 of the 3 points method above
Line Vector : Specify a reference line to define the node's local coordinate system.
Direction : Select the component of node local axis. Selected component will be aligned into the orthogonal direction of the reference line.
Ref. Point : Specify 2 nodes to define a reference line.
P0 : Coordinates of the origin of the reference line
P1 : 2nd point of the reference line to determine the direction of reference line.
Global Direction : Angle of rotation about z"-axis rotated about X- and y'-axes
P0 : Coordinates of the origin of the reference line
P1 : Component of the GCS axis to determine the direction of reference line.
Note
The following are the application functions for Node Local Axis :
"Supports"
"Point Spring Supports"
"General Spring Supports"
"Surface Spring Supports" (in case of Convert to Point Spring)
"Specified Displacements of Supports"
"Reaction Forces/Moments" of "Reactions"
"Reactions" of "Influence Lines"
"Reactions" of "Influence Surfaces"