2D Element Force and Moment Results
When dealing with elements with no thickness (such as fabrics) or composite materials (such as reinforced concrete) it is more useful to work with stress resultants or forces, than with stresses. For concrete the stress values are based on the properties of an equivalent isotropic material. The checks used for stress results noted above can also be applied to force results. For fabric elements the force resultants are calculated directly but for elements with thickness they are calculated from the in-plane and bending stresses and the element thickness. Details of these are given in the GSA Theory.