Plotting loads from multiple Section Cuts has historically involved multiple steps across multiple tools. As of HyperX version 2025.1.4, you can plot export loads from any amount of selected Section Cuts.
While HyperX has had the ability to export Section Cut loads for some time, it has been limited to exporting loads one Section Cut at a time. However, it is common to want to export all Section Cut loads to plot and compare loads. Previously, this would require exporting the loads for each Section Cut and then combining them manually or via Scripting but now can be done much more simply.
You can also plot loads directly within HyperX so you can view VMT diagrams, Envelope Plots, and Potato Plots without having to use external tools.
To plot Section Cut loads directly in HyperX:
In the Section Cut Loads Plot Form, you can plot VMTs, Load Envelopes, and Potato Plots for selected Section Cuts and customize them with multiple options.
There are brief descriptions of the Standard (VMT) options below. Starting from the left:
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Show Axis Controls - Opens a pop-out window with options to control what kind of data to plot on each. Choosing "Location" for the horizontal axis enables the "Direction" and "Origin" fields.
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Lock/Unlock Selection - By default, the data plotted in this form is based on the currently selected Section Cuts so changing the selection will change the graph (Unlocked Selection). Locking the selection will allow you to select other Section Cuts (perhaps to plot in another Section Cuts Loads Form to compare) without changing the graphs in this form.
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Plot Mode Dropdown - Changes the graph mode between Standard (VMT), Envelope, and Potato.
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Labels - Only available for Envelope and Potato Plots. Automatically labels critical load cases in Envelope and Potato Plots.
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Grid Line Options - Toggles for displaying major and minor grid lines.
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Marker Options - Show/hide and resize line series points.
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Font Size - Sliders to control font size for axis and point labels.
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Export to Excel - Export the Section Cuts Loads data to Excel. Identical in output to process described in Exporting Loads for a Selection of Section Cuts.
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Pin/Unpin Legend - Shows/hides the plot's legend detailing which load cases corresponding to which line/point color. The legend also allows you to show and hide load case graphs.
In "Envelope" mode, you plot a Load Envelope where each point represents the load from a design case through a Section Cut. This mode highlights the min/max loads to identify controlling cases at each Section Cut location.
In this mode, some of settings differ than those from the Standard plot style. Those that have changed:
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Show Axis Controls - Similar to the VMT options but tailored to Load Envelopes. Specify the type of loads plotted and the direction and origin to measure distance.
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Show/Hide Labels - Labels the min and max load cases for each section cut.
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Legend - You can toggle the lines representing Load Limits and/or the points for the critical and non-critical load cases.
In "Potato" mode, graph Potato Plots where each envelope line represents the load envelope at each Section Cut. This mode lets you plot one load type against another to see how those loads interact for each design case.
Note
Design cases that fall on the potato line are not necessarily the max or min for a load type but may still be critical due to load interaction.
In this mode, some of settings differ than those from the standard plot style. Those that have changed:
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Show Axis Controls -For Potato Plots, you only need to set the Load Settings and which force to plot on each axis.
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Show/Hide Labels - Labels the min and max load cases for each section cut.
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Section Cuts/Design Loads - These legends allow you to toggle plotting for Load Cases and shows the color of each selected Section Cut's potato plot.
To export loads for multiple Section Cuts:
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Select the Section Cut(s) you want to export loads for.
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Right-click the selection and choose "Export Section Cut Loads" from the drop down.
OR navigate to the Results tab of the Ribbon and click "Section Cut Loads Report".
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In the resulting form, you can customize the exported data with the following options.
Note
"Write Min/Max Loads" will add another section of rows to the exported spreadsheet with the controlling (Min/Max) loads and associated design cases per Section Cut.
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Click "Export" to select the location to save the exported loads file.