{"id":3071,"date":"2018-07-11T14:42:16","date_gmt":"2018-07-11T14:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/buildsoftsupport.com\/?post_type=ht_kb&#038;p=3071"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:42:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:42:28","slug":"what-is-the-sign-convention","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/knowledge-base\/what-is-the-sign-convention\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the sign convention"},"content":{"rendered":"<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th><\/th>\n<th>POSITIVE<\/th>\n<th>NEGATIVE<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th width=\"25%\">Axial force<\/th>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3111 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/buildsoftsupport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"191\" height=\"40\" srcset=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention4.png 191w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention4-50x10.png 50w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention4-60x13.png 60w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention4-35x7.png 35w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 191px) 100vw, 191px\" \/><\/td>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3110 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/buildsoftsupport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"44\" srcset=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention5.png 194w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention5-50x11.png 50w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention5-60x14.png 60w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention5-35x8.png 35w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th rowspan=\"2\" width=\"25%\">Bending moments<\/th>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3109 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/buildsoftsupport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"142\" height=\"95\" srcset=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention6.png 142w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention6-50x33.png 50w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention6-60x40.png 60w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention6-35x23.png 35w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 142px) 100vw, 142px\" \/><\/td>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3108 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/buildsoftsupport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"145\" height=\"81\" srcset=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention7.png 145w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention7-50x28.png 50w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention7-60x34.png 60w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention7-35x20.png 35w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 145px) 100vw, 145px\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bending moment is drawn on the tensile side of the member<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">If the upper side (z&#8217; &gt; 0 or y&#8217; &gt; 0) is subjected to tension, the bending moment is positive.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">If the lower side (z&#8217; &lt; 0 or y&#8217; &lt; 0) is subjected to tension, the bending moment is\u00a0negative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th width=\"25%\">Shear force<\/th>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The sign of the shear force depends on the variation of the corresponding moment.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Ascending curve for the bending moment \u2192 shear force is negative<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Descending curve for the bending moment \u2192 shear force is positive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th rowspan=\"2\" width=\"25%\">Reactions<\/p>\n<p><sub>(signs for reactions are shown in Diamonds 2020 or newer)<\/sub><\/th>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/buildsoftsupport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8a2.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5326 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/buildsoftsupport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8a2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"156\" height=\"155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8a2.png 156w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8a2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8a2-50x50.png 50w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8a2-60x60.png 60w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8a2-35x35.png 35w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 156px) 100vw, 156px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5325 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/buildsoftsupport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8b2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"156\" height=\"155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8b2.png 156w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8b2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8b2-50x50.png 50w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8b2-60x60.png 60w, https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/SignConvention8b2-35x35.png 35w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 156px) 100vw, 156px\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The sign of the reactions depends on its direction:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">If the reaction goes in the same direction as the global coordinate system, the sign is positive.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">If the\u00a0reaction goes in the opposite direction of the global coordinate system, the sign\u00a0is negative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th width=\"25%\">Stresses<\/th>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The sign of the stresses depends on which stresses you&#8217;re looking at:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/docs\/diamonds\/results-buttons\/displaying-elastic-stresses-in-bars\/\">Stresses in bars<\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img_inline alignnone size-full wp-image-16485\" src=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ResultaatLijnSpanningen.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"36\" height=\"36\" \/>\u2192 if the stress occurs on the positive side of the local coordinate system, the sign is positive. The 4 sub results already make a distinction between compression and tension.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/docs\/diamonds\/results-buttons\/detailed-results-in-a-cross-section\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stresses in cross-section<\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img_inline alignnone size-full wp-image-10064\" src=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/KnopDetailresultatenInDoorsnede.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"19\" height=\"19\" \/> and in <a href=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/docs\/diamonds\/results-buttons\/displaying-elastic-stresses-in-surfaces\/\">surfaces<\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img_inline alignnone size-full wp-image-16506\" src=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ResultaatPlaatSpanningen.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"36\" height=\"36\" \/>\u2192 compressive stress is negative, tensile stress is positive.<br \/>\nIn surfaces, the stresses are drawn on the tensile side of the element.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">The concrete\/steel stresses in a reinforced concrete section using <a href=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/knowledge-base\/how-to-show-the-advanced-intermediary-reinforcement-results\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the advanced detailed results<\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24057\" src=\"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/KnopWapeningsdetails2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"17\" height=\"17\" \/> \u2192 compression stress is positive, tensile stress is negative<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>POSITIVE NEGATIVE Axial force Bending moments The bending moment is drawn on the tensile side of the member If the upper side (z&#8217; &gt; 0 or y&#8217; &gt; 0) is subjected to tension, the bending moment is positive. If the lower side (z&#8217; &lt; 0 or y&#8217; &lt; 0) is&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"ht-kb-category":[62],"ht-kb-tag":[581,445],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/3071"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ht_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3071"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/3071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28151,"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/3071\/revisions\/28151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-category?post=3071"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.buildsoft.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-tag?post=3071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}