Deflected Shape

The Results - Deflected Shape command displays the deflected shape for all lateral members on the screen. When the command is invoked, all currently analyzed load cases are available.

Several options are provided in the dialog for a chosen analyzed load case:

Show Displacement Contour: This is only applicable for lateral walls and meshed diaphragms. When invoked, it shows global displacement contours of the deflected shape:
- Color contours are drawn in a way that they are displayed according to chosen component direction X, Y or Z. For instance, if one chooses Z-direction for a load case, then the program first determines maximum absolute deflection in Z-direction, and then, it is used when scaling displacement contours. Hence, the display always shows color contours scaled according to the max. deflection in the chosen component direction. For gravity load cases, it is recommended to choose Z-direction.
- Mesh Color Scale: it shows the range of colors associated with deflection contours of different magnitudes on the screen. The palette is centered on zero deflection (dark green) with negative (downward) displacement values extending to color red and upward, positive values to dark blue. The maximum displacement value for the selected load case is indicated on the ends of the slider in the units chosen for the model (mm or in). The user can also adjust the range of colors associated with the deflection values by clicking and dragging the slider (small triangle) located at each end of the color palette. As the slider is dragged the displacement value shows on the slider. Using this control the user can establish a displacement limit, drag the triangle slider to that limit, and the program colors all elements with displacement larger than the limit in the extreme color (red or blue).
Show Displaced Shape: When invoked, displaced shape is drawn on screen. In addition, undisplaced shape can be also shown at the same time if Show Undisplaced Shape option is selected. Note that the user can specify a scale factor which is used to amplify the deflected shape (see the Scale Factor option in the Settings section) In addition, the user can define number of deflection station along the members (beams, columns and braces only). By default, it is set to 10. (if more than 2 deflection stations are entered, the program interpolate deflections for intermediate points based on end displacements)
Show Vertical Displacement values @ Qtr Pts.: The values of the vertical deflections at the quarter points of beams can be displayed by invoking this option. Either Net deflections or Gross deflections can be specified. These values are in inches or mm, depending on the currently specified units. This is most useful for the gravity load cases
Animate: When invoked, the displaced shape is animated on screen. Animation speed can be controlled by the Animation Speed slider in the Settings section.
Show Mesh: show mesh generated for lateral walls and meshed diaphragms.
Mesh Transparency: This option sets transparency level of walls and diaphragms.
Show Member Twisting: For high resolution, member twisting can be included when drawing deflected shape by invoking this option.

Once a selection or change done, the user needs to invoke the Apply button to see the changes. The Reset button clears the deflected shape. The Close button terminates the command. When the command is terminated the currently displayed deflected shape is also cleared on the screen.