Beam/bar orientation can be defined by specifying a node (internally the solver
calculates the vector).
In order to provide the correct offset from underlying shell elements, it is useful
to have the beam orientation using the coordinate system (vector). This function
does the conversion from node to vector.
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From the menu bar, click .
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Select the 1D elements.
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Click OK.
If the orientation nodes are not used they are suppressed. There is a mix of
CBAR and CBEAM elements using the same section shape. With CBAR elements, the
solver enforce shear center matches with the centroid (neutral axis). With CBEAM
elements, there is a distance between the shear center and neutral axis. In
order to place all of these beams as stiffeners on top of a shell, an offset is
applied to the elements.