Producing a symbol plot of free body nodal forces

You can create a symbol plot that shows the summation of free body nodal forces at individual nodes in your model. The symbol field output variable FREEBODY is the sum of the individual NFORCn components at a node, but with the vector’s direction reversed. The FREEBODY output variable also takes into account the displayed elements by default; in contrast, contour plots of NFORC1 consider the whole model.

See Also
Selecting the symbol field output variable
Using symbol plot options
Resultant forces and moments on free body cuts in Abaqus/CAE

Context:

The FREEBODY symbol plot is a representation of the unbalanced forces acting on the object that is represented by the current display group. This sensitivity to current display group is not exhibited in any other context, such as contour plots.

  1. Open the output database containing your analysis results with NFORC data included.
  2. Select the results step and frame to display.
  3. If desired, focus in on a subset of your model using a display group.
  4. Select FREEBODY as the symbol field output variable to display.

    The symbol plot state is activated.

  5. Select the plot state–independent and symbol plot customization options you want.
  6. From the main menu bar, select PlotSymbols to modify whether to plot the symbols on the deformed model shape, the undeformed shape, or both.

    Tip: You can also produce a symbol plot using the deformed , undeformed , or superimposed symbol tools in the toolbox.

    The current viewport changes to display a customized symbol plot of free body nodal forces at the specified step and frame of the current output database for the current display group.

    Abaqus automatically refreshes your symbol plot each time you click Apply in the step and frame selector dialog box, plot state–independent options, superimpose plot options (if applicable), or symbol plot options dialog boxes.