1. How to define the local element axis Define the reference vector Then The local z-axis is found as the cross product between the local x-axis and the reference vector. The local y-axis is found as the cross product between the local z-axis and the local x-axis. 2. Reference vector Local x-axis goes from end 1 to end of the element The reference vector define a point relative to end 1. The reference vector is non-dimensional Together the reference vector and the local x-axis define the local xy-plane 3. Local Z The local z-axis is found as the cross product between the local x-axis and the reference vector, i.e., Zloc = Xloc x R, where Xloc=[dx,dy,dz] and R=[Rnx,Rny,Rnz] 4. Local Y The local y-axis is found as the cross product between the local z-axis and the local x-axis, i.e., Yloc = Zloc x Xloc, where Zloc =[dx,dy,dz] and Xloc=[dx,dy,dz] 5. Example 1 - local x parallel along global x-axis Reference point is R=[0,1,0] Local z-axis will be parallel to global z-axis Local y-axis will be parallel to global y-axis 6. Example 2 - local x parallel along global x-axis Reference point is R=[2,2,0] The point is in the same plane as in example 1 Local z-axis will be parallel to global z-axis Local y-axis will be parallel to global y-axis 7. Example 3 - local x parallel along global x-axis Reference point is R=[0,-1,0] The point is in the same plane as in example 1 but on the other side of the element Local z-axis will be parallel to global z-axis but in the opposite direction; i.e. downwards 8. Example 4 - local x parallel along global z-axis Reference point is R=[0,1,0] Local y-axis will be parallel to global y-axis Local z-axis will be parallel to global x-axis but point in the negative direction 9. Example 5 - local x parallel along global z-axis Reference point is R=[0,-1,0] Local y-axis will be parallel to global, negative y-axis Local z-axis will be parallel to global x-axis