Local y axis of twoNodeLink element in 3D model

Forum for asking and answering questions related to use of the OpenSeesPy module

Moderators: silvia, selimgunay, Moderators

Post Reply
chenwangNigel
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2018 6:31 am
Location: McGill University

Local y axis of twoNodeLink element in 3D model

Post by chenwangNigel » Sun Sep 04, 2022 1:07 am

Hello everyone,

I have a question about how the local y axis of a twoNodeLink element is determined in 3D model, in case I am not defining it explicitly.

Say I have two nodes:
node(1, 0,0,0)
node(2, 0,1,0)

Then I define a twoNodeLink element as:
element('twoNodeLink', 1, *[1,2], '-mat', *[1,2,3], '-dir', *[1,2,6])

I know the local x axis would be the global y axis. But what is the local y axis in this case?

Thank you for your attension and looking forward to your kind answer.

mhscott
Posts: 874
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:38 pm
Location: Corvallis, Oregon USA
Contact:

Re: Local y axis of twoNodeLink element in 3D model

Post by mhscott » Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:28 am

The local y and z axes are arbitrary in 3D, so you have to define the local y axis. I'm guessing you want it to be 1,0,0

chenwangNigel
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2018 6:31 am
Location: McGill University

Re: Local y axis of twoNodeLink element in 3D model

Post by chenwangNigel » Sun Sep 04, 2022 6:07 pm

mhscott wrote:
Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:28 am
The local y and z axes are arbitrary in 3D, so you have to define the local y axis. I'm guessing you want it to be 1,0,0
Thank you Prof. Scott! This is really helpful.

Yes, I want the local y axis to be [1,0,0] in this case. So I would have to define the local orientation explicitly as:
'-orient', *[0,1,0], *[1,0,0]

Post Reply