PROPERTIES OF SECTION DESCRIBED BY NODES COORDINATES

Section properties involve the mathematical properties of structural shapes. They are of great use in structural analysis and design. Note that these properties have nothing to do with the strength of the material, but are based solely on the shape of the section. It explains why some shapes are more efficient at supporting loads than others.

These properties are looked at in more detail following:

• centre of area (or centroid)
• second moment of area or moment of inertia (I)
• section modulus (Z)
• radius of gyration (r)