When you create an undeformed or deformed plot, you can choose to display arrows in the plot that indicate the directions of the element or surface normals. You can display normal directions for beams, pipes, frame elements, contact surfaces, membranes, rigid elements, rigid surfaces, shells, three-dimensional solids, and trusses. (For information about normal directions for a particular type of element or surface, see Part VI, “Elements,” of the ABAQUS Analysis User's Manual.)
To display and customize the appearance of element or surface normals:
Locate the common or superimposed normals options. The common normals options apply to the undeformed and the deformed shape when they are plotted individually. The superimpose normals options apply to the undeformed shape when it is plotted with the deformed shape.
From the main menu bar, select Options
Common or Superimpose; then click the Normals tab in the dialog box that appears.
Toggle on Show normals.
The Normals options become available.
Toggle on On elements to display the normals on elements in your model or On surfaces to display the normals on surfaces in your model.
In the area of the dialog box labeled Colors, select the colors in which you want the different types of normals to appear.
In the area of the dialog box labeled Style:
Click the arrow next to the Length field, and select the arrow length of your choice. The default selection is Medium.
Click the arrow next to the Line Thickness field, and select the arrow thickness of your choice.
Click the arrow next to the Arrowhead field, and select the arrowhead style of your choice.
Click Apply to implement your changes.
Arrows appear in the viewport that indicate the normal directions of the elements or surfaces in the model. In general, the arrows appear at the centroid of exterior element faces.