Section Cut Conventions
Because the RAM Concrete Wall module reports the Section Cut forces in both the local axis and the global axis system, it is important that the conventions for these axes is clearly understood.
The global axis system is referred to with the standard X and Y. Vx is a shear force in the direction of the positive global X-axis, while Mxx refers to a moment about the positive global X-axis (right hand rule).
The local axes are referred to as major and minor. The local convention is summarized in the table and figure below.
- P
- axial force where a +P is compressive
- Vmaj
- Shear force in the local major direction
- Vmin
- Shear force in the local minor direction
- Mmaj
- Moment acting in the local major direction (about the + minor axis)
- Mmin
- Moment acting in the local minor direction (about the - major axis)
- Mu
- Resultant of Mmaj and Mmin which acts at an angle β CCW from + major axis
