Abaqus/CAE
draws a triad at the element integration points to indicate the material
orientation. For example, a material orientation plot is shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 1. Material orientation plot.
Material orientations are available only for those elements for which field
output is requested at the selected section points. Valid elements include all
shell elements, as well as solid elements for which you have defined a local
orientation. The material orientations are displayed at the current step and
frame of the analysis and at the current section point selection for shell
elements. If display is enabled for both the top and bottom section point
locations,
Abaqus/CAE
displays material orientations for the bottom location only. For small-strain
shell elements the material orientations do not rotate with the deformation of
the model (see
About shell elements,
for more information). Material orientation plots can also be created for
reinforcement layers in membrane, shell, and surface elements.