Dear fmk, help!!!

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civilman
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:56 am
Location: Dalian

Dear fmk, help!!!

Post by civilman »

In OpenSees Command Language Manual says "The x-axis is the axis connecting the two element nodes;the y-and z-axes are then defined using a vector that lies on a plane parallel to the local x-z plane--vecxz.The y-axis is defined by taking the cross product of the x-axis and the vecxz vector."
But I can't understand what's the meaning of this sentence even look at the pictures .
if nodal coordinates of a beam-column element are nodei(5,4,-3),nodej(-2,6,2), respectively, how to define the following three parameters, $vecxzX $vecxzY $vecxzZ?
many thanks for any help.

z
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| * j(-2,6,2)
| *______________________y
/ *
/ * pipe
/ *
/ * i(5,4,-3)
/
/
/
/
x

Sectional properties of pipe(beam-column) element considered here is as follows: diameter is 120mm, thickness 5mm.

how to define the following three parameters, $vecxzX $vecxzY $vecxzZ?
civilman
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:56 am
Location: Dalian

Post by civilman »

help, thanks
civilman
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:56 am
Location: Dalian

Post by civilman »

help,help,many thanks
fmk
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Post by fmk »

let's try again.

1. you need to understand the right hand rule.

[url]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-hand_rule
[/url]

2. the x axis (your thumb) points along the axis of the element, iNode to jNode.

3. you need to define a plane, the x-z plane. This is the plane in which the x axis (your middle finger) lies.
from basic coordinate geometry you need 2 vectors to define a plane (the x axis is one, you need to provide a z vector).

4. the y axis is the cross-product of the x axis and the z vector supplied. if you play with your finger or a cardboard cut out you will see that no matter what the z vector you supplied to define the x-z plane is, the y axis remains constant.

5. YOU NEED TO SIMPLY PROVIDE THE Z VECTOR.

Either use your hand or a cardboard cut-out.

you need to figure this out for yourself. if you cannot understand this you will never be able to figure out what the results mean. and i am not going to give you an answer for this and have you come back again.
Last edited by fmk on Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
civilman
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:56 am
Location: Dalian

Post by civilman »

fmk, you are so well, thanks for your patience and help.
I can figure it out thanks to your help.
thanks again. I am so appreciated.
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