7/15/2014 Local Axes Shell Objects

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Local Axes - Shell Objects
Form: Shell Assignment - Local Axes
In ETABS, the orientation of the 1- and 2-axes and the positive direction of the 3-axis depend on the type
(orientation) of the shell object.
Note: Use the View menu > Set Display Options command to access the Set View Options form; then check the
Local Axes check boxes under Fame Assignments and Shell Assignments on the Object Assignments tab of the
form to display both shell and frame object axes. When local axes are displayed in the ETABS window, local axis 1
is red, local axis 2 is green, and local axis 3 is blue, always.
The default local axes orientation for shell objects is as follows: The local axis 3 is always normal to the plane of
the shell object. This axis is directed toward you when the path of the joints defining the shell object appears
counterclockwise, as shown in the figure to the below .The default orientation of the
local 1 and 2 axes is determined by the relationship between the local 3 axes and the
global Z axis as follows:
The local 3-2 plane is taken to be vertical; that is, parallel to the Z axis.
The local 2-axis is taken to have an upward (+Z) sense unless the element is
horizontal, in which case the local 2-axis is taken to be horizontal along the
global +Y direction.
The local 1-axis is always horizontal; that is, it lies in the X-Y plane.
The object is considered to be horizontal if the sine of the angle between the local 3-axis and the Z-axis is less
than 10
-3
. The local 2-axis makes the same angle with the vertical axis as the local 3-axis makes with the
horizontal plane. This means that the local 2-axis points vertically upward for vertical objects.
Modify the direction of the local axes of a shell object as follows:
1. Select a shell object.
2. Click the Assign menu > Shell > Local Axes command to access the Shell Assignment - Local Axes
form.
3. Select the appropriate option:
Rotation Angle from Default Orientation option and edit box. Specify an angle in degrees to
modify the default local axes directions. The angle specified is the angle from the default location of
the local 2-axis (not necessarily the current location) to the new location of the local 2-axis. The
angle is positive if it is counterclockwise when viewed from the positive local 3-axis side of the
object.
7/15/2014 Local Axes Shell Objects
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Rotation Angle form the Current Orientation option and edit box. Enter a value to rotate the local
2-axis by the specified angle (in degrees) from its current location (not necessarily its default
position). When the 3-axis is pointing towards you, a positive rotation is counterclockwise; that is,
the right-hand rule applies (see above sketch).
Normal to Selected Beam option. To use this option, first select a frame as well as a shell object
and then click the Assign menu > Shell > Local Axes command. When this options is selected,
ETABS rotates the Local 2-axis of the shell object perpendicular to the selected frame.
4. Click the Apply button to complete the assignment.
5. When the Apply button is used, the Shell Assignment - Local Axes form will remain open until it is closed
by clicking the Close button. This allows selection of another shell object(s), to which a different
assignment can be made. If only one assignment is being made to only one set of selected objects, the
OK button can be used to both apply the assignment and close the form
Important Note: Do not confuse the local axes of shell objects with those of pier and spandrel elements. They are
different. The local axes of pier and spandrel elements cannot be rotated.