help · Results and reports
3D view
The calculated mast as a 3D model: loads, diagrams, deflected shape, profile and support loads.
The 3D view shows the model the mast is calculated with: the mast, its cross-arms and rigid links, the anchor and the supports. Open it after a calculation with 3D view on the calculation page (one per variant, see Calculation and results), or use the 3D tab of the mast image (Mast image). If several variants were calculated, Variant switches between them.
Moving around
- Drag to turn the model, shift+drag to move it, the wheel to zoom, a double-click to fit it.
- View: Front x-z, Side y-z, Top x-y or 3D; Fit fits the model into the window.
The axes are those of the calculation: x to the right, y into the picture, z up along the mast.
What is drawn
Choose the Combination and what to show on the structure:
- Acting loads - an arrow at each point where parts act; the mast's own wind as a row of small arrows along it, self weight included.
- Forces, Moments, Stresses - diagrams along the mast; Value picks the component. Each diagram is drawn in the plane it acts in; the legend says which - for the y-z plane, turn the view to see it.
- Deflected shape - the deflected mast, shown exaggerated; Exaggerate more and Exaggerate less change the factor. The cross-arms turn with the mast's twist. Direction chooses what is shown: x, y, or Combined - the length of the displacement. The values are given in mm on the drawing; the legend gives the largest one in the chosen direction, and the twist. z is greyed out: the mast is calculated for horizontal deflections and its twist only.
Diagrams are coloured with the same scale as on the mast image: blue for the smallest values, red for the largest. Point at the model to read the values at that place.
Section forces are calculated along the mast; cross-arms and rigid links show none, and the anchor shows its axial force when you click it (see below). For a mast with an anchor, the legend says whether the combination counts with or without it. The box beside the drawing says what the combination consists of, as on the mast image.
Values on the drawing
Values: None, Min / max, or All (where they fit). With All (where they fit), values that would overlap are left out, so zooming in shows more of them; the smallest and the largest are always shown. This holds for the diagrams and for the deflections: for one direction, the largest value on each side is shown. Units shows or hides the units.
Profile and mast image
- Mast profile draws the cross-section along the mast, oriented as calculated: in the normal orientation the strong side is across the track and the web runs along x. It is drawn to scale; zoom in to see it better - the top view shows the orientation best.
- On the deflected shape draws forces, moments and stresses on the deflected model, along the bent members; the undeflected model stays faint behind it.
- Mast image lays the mast image into the x-z plane, where its calibration puts it - only for a mast with a calibrated image.
Support loads
The supports are the squares at the mast foot and, with an anchor, at the anchor foundation. Click one to see its loads in the chosen combination: the forces Fx, Fy, Fz and the moments Mx, My, Mz, as the foundation checks use them, with arrows on the drawing. For the anchor foundation the anchor's axial force N is given too; in a combination that counts without the anchor it carries no load. Click the support again to close it.
The anchor's force
Click the anchor to see its axial force N in the chosen combination: Tension, with an arrow at each end pointing away from the anchor (blue), or Compression, with arrows pushing into it (red). The value is written beside the anchor and in the box next to the drawing. In a combination that counts without the anchor, the box says so. Click the anchor again to close it.
Back to the mast image
Mast image returns to the mast image with the same results shown - nothing is calculated again. A calculation is kept for a while; once it has expired, the page says so: calculate the mast again.