Applies To
	Product(s):	STAAD.Pro
	Version(s):	All
	Environment:	N/A
	Area:	Modeling Solutions
	Subarea:	Specifications
	Original Author:	Bentley Technical Support Group

How to change the local axis orientation X and Y for plates?

Although it is very easy to flip the direction of the local Z axis for the plates by using the Specification > Plate > Plate Reference Point option, unfortunately there is no easy way to change the local X and Y for plates as needed. For example, if one needs to re-orient the local x for the plate to be parallel to the global X direction, one has to redefine the incidence of the plates by going to the STAAD editor and changing the ELEMENT INCIDENCE data manually. The local X would be a vector from the center of the plate, drawn in a direction from node1 to node2 and is hence dependent on the element incidences data. In other words the element incidences need to be such that node1 to node2 should be the direction of the global X. The rule which governs how the plate local axes are oriented, is explained under section General Engineering Theory > G.5 Finite Element Information > G.5.1 Plate and Shell Elements of the STAAD.Pro Help.