Description: For the summation point in free body calculations, you can now specify that the area centroid or the nodal average be used.

In previous releases the Centroid of cut option in the Edit Free Body Cut dialog box placed the summation point at the average of the nodal coordinates of the selected elements of the free body cross-section. That behavior is now obtained by choosing the Nodal average option.

Now when you choose the Centroid of cut option for the summation point, the area centroid of the polygon formed by the external boundary edges of the selected faces is used in the free body calculations. Figure 12–2 shows the available options for the summation point in free body cuts.

Visualization module:
    ToolsFree Body CutCreate; Summation Point: Centroid of cut or Nodal average