Material orientation plots allow you to visualize the material directions of the elements in your model. ABAQUS/CAE draws a triad at the element integration points to indicate the material orientation. For example, a material orientation plot is shown in Figure 28–1.

Material orientations are available only for those elements for which field output is requested at the selected section points. Valid elements include all shell elements, as well as solid elements for which you have defined a local orientation. The material orientations are displayed at the current step and frame of the analysis and at the current section point selection for shell elements. If display is enabled for both the top and bottom section point locations, ABAQUS/CAE displays material orientations for the bottom location only. For small-strain shell elements the material orientations do not rotate with the deformation of the model (see “Shell elements: overview,” Section 23.6.1 of the ABAQUS Analysis User's Manual, for more information). Material orientation plots can also be created for reinforcement layers in membrane, shell, and surface elements.