Sign Convention for Concrete Column |
  
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Sign Convention for Concrete Column |
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Coordinate Axis System (Column in Plan View)
Applied Axial Load Sign Convention
Applied axial loads are treated as downward loads. They act in the same direction as gravity.
Applied Shear Load Sign Convention
Applied shear loads respect the logical convention.
Positive shears act in the positive direction of the selected axis.
Negative shears act in the negative direction of the selected axis.
Applied Moment Sign Convention
Applied moments follow the right hand rule.
To visualize the direction of action of a positive Mx, point your right thumb in the +X direction, and the natural curl of your right fingers will indicate the direction of action of a positive Mx.
To visualize the direction of action of a negative Mx, point your right thumb in the -X direction, and the natural curl of your right fingers will indicate the direction of action of a negative Mx.
To visualize the direction of action of a positive My, point your right thumb in the +Y direction, and the natural curl of your right fingers will indicate the direction of action of a positive My.
To visualize the direction of action of a negative My, point your right thumb in the -Y direction, and the natural curl of your right fingers will indicate the direction of action of a negative My.
Internal Axial Loads Sign Convention
Internal axial loads reported on Calculations > AMVD Results > Strength Design Results follow the convention that positive values represent compression.
Internal Moments Sign Convention
Internal moments reported on Calculations > AMVD Results > Strength Design Results follow this convention:
A positive Mx means the +Y surface is in tension, and the -Y surface is in compression.
A negative Mx means the -Y surface is in tension, and the +Y surface is in compression.
A positive My means the +X surface is in tension, and the -X surface is in compression.
A negative My means the -X surface is in tension, and the +X surface is in compression.
Reactions Sign Convention
Axial reactions are reported as positive when they are upward.
Moment Reactions follow the right-hand rule explained above in Applied Moment Sign Convention
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