Labeling of joints is performed automatically. Angles of truss members are computed and displayed as the truss is created. The analysis results are shown on the truss. Tension members, compression members, and zero force members are each indicated by a different color. Optionally, normal stresses can be computed for the truss members, or given a stress limit, the required area for each member can be computed from the results of the truss analysis.
Shear stress is defined as either clockwise or counterclockwise on the X-face of the stress element.
Separate pictures are drawn to indicate the orientation of the principal stresses relative to the XY coordinate system as well as the maximum shear stress orientation. Stresses at any arbitrary orientation can also be investigated. A drawing surrounded with a protractor-like border enables the user to obtain stresses at any arbitrary orientation with merely one mouse click. The Mohr's circle calculations can be accessed from both the beam and torsion member portions of MDSolids. Data from combined stress situations is automatically supplied from these routines to the Mohr's circle calculation.