Creating and Using Section Planes

The slice plane option allows users to view geometry features and display result contours and mesh through a part or assembly by "slicing" the geometry at specific cross sections.

The slice plane can be edited to adjust the view of a specific cross section. Slice planes are available for both preprocessing and postprocessing.

Constructing a Section Plane

Creating a section plane

Select the desired project branch to apply a slice plane. Click the "New Section Plane" icon button and drag the mouse across the part to create the slice plane. The graphics toolbar displays the section planes panel below the Details View located in the lower left panel of the Simulation window. Construct additional slice planes by clicking and dragging additional lines across the model.

Editing a section plane

Use the section plane panel to display selection plane anchors and properties.

Click on the line on either side of the anchor to view the colored exterior on that side of the plane. This is called a "Capping Plane." A dashed line indicates a slice plane, a solid line denotes a capping plane. Drag the slice plane or capping plane anchor to change the position of the plane.

To maneuver between multiple planes, simply use the check box next to each plane that is created.

When you are on a mesh display, you can use the "Show Whole Element" button to display the adjacent elements to the slice plane.

Animation of Section Planes

Example using the section plane for geometry selection

Use the section plane to slice a model and make internal geometry selections that may otherwise be difficult to view and select.

Animation of Section Plane Example

Equivalent Stress

Slice Plane of Equivalent Stress