Canvas legend
Every support, load, overlay, and geometry color used on the canvas, in one place. This is the same reference available from inside the canvas itself (Show Legend in the canvas menu).
Supports
Use these support types to restrain geometry for reaction force analysis.
Restrains translation while allowing rotation.
Restrains movement normal to the support direction while allowing rolling along the support surface. This support uses a control line to set the angle of the support.
Restrains translation and rotation.
Loads And Moments
Add loads and moments to your model to define external forces. Reaction forces at supports are calculated automatically.
Single point load applied to structure. Forces angles are defined with a constraint line.
Rotational load applied at a node. The curved arrow direction indicates clockwise or counterclockwise input.
Analysis Overlays
ForceCanvas displays analysis results in real-time as you build and modify your geometry.
Green parallel bands mark stable members. Force calculations only run on stable geometry. You must add proper supports to stabilize the geometry. This is not the same as the dimensional and relational geometry constraints.
When component mode is enabled via the hide/show reactions button in the toolbar, reactions split into Rx, Ry values.
When resultant mode is enabled via the hide/show reactions button in the toolbar, the reaction displays as a single resultant arrow that can show the angle of the force.
Support reaction moments display directionally clockwise or counterclockwise.
Node End Conditions
Open and filled node markers distinguish released versus fixed/welded beam-end behavior at joints. Right click on a node to change its end condition.
Open circle node. Rotation is released at that joint location.
Filled circle node. Rotation remains fixed/welded through the joint.
These icons appear when right-clicking on a node to change its end condition.
Line Status And Types
Geometry line colors communicate constraint state. The colors indicate whether the geometry is under, fully, or over defined/constrained. This is not the same as the stability overlay for force analysis.
Still has degrees of freedom. Usually means the beam or sketch geometry can still move or rotate.
No remaining degrees of freedom. The geometry is fully defined and cannot move or rotate.
Conflicting or redundant constraints are present. The geometry will likely break, and dimensional values may change from the defined values. The geometry can still move or rotate.
Dashed geometry used for reference. Construction lines help layout but are not intended as analysis members.
Circle geometry is for reference and layout purposes only. They cannot be used as analytical members to transmit forces on the canvas at this time.
Internal Beam Forces
Clicking on a beam will show isolated internal forces. Internal beam force colors help distinguish local internal-force components after solving.
Axial and shear components render together at beam end nodes.
Internal Moment are shown directionally clockwise or counterclockwise.
A single arrow appears when internal beam force display is switched from components to resultant.