Element Forces & Reactions
The Results tab (available after analysis) shows detailed structural output.
Element Forces
| Column | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Element ID | Unique element identifier | — |
| Type | Leg / Diagonal / Horizontal | — |
| Section | Which tower section | — |
| Axial Force | Tension (+) or Compression (–) | kN |
| Unity Check | Demand / Capacity | — |
| Status | Pass / Fail | — |
Forces are reported for the governing load combination — the combination producing the highest unity check ratio in each member.
Support Reactions
Base reactions at each foundation point:
| Reaction | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Fx, Fz | Horizontal base shear | kN |
| Fy | Vertical reaction (compression/uplift) | kN |
| Mx, My | Overturning moments | kN·m |
| Mz | Torsional moment | kN·m |
Reactions are reported per load combination. Use the governing case for foundation design.
Using Reactions for Foundation Design
The base reactions from TowerPlot are the input for foundation design:
- Compression (Fy) → bearing capacity / pile capacity
- Uplift (Fy negative) → anchor / deadman capacity
- Horizontal (Fx, Fz) → lateral resistance / passive earth pressure
- Overturning (Mx, Mz) → foundation width / pile spacing