# Reaction Force - Vector (Display) **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Requests\ **Created:** [February 1, 2026, 8:40am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/reaction-force-vector-display/3228 "2026-02-01T08:40:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![arnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@arnie](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/arnie)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 8:40am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/reaction-force-vector-display/3228/1 "2026-02-01T08:40:54Z")
If not too difficult to implement, would it be possible to dispaly a 3D vector of the Reaction Force (sum of X,Y,Z components). It helps to instantly visualise the RF direction and makes it handy for plotting in FEA reports. This seems a common feature in some commercial software. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/2/2e41f4719d70dc50e256dff9a70d4de416c02eba.jpeg) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/c/c8d117643741a638ef9a9dfbc2d0ca20c4082c62.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/reaction-force-vector-display/3228/2 "2026-02-01T14:56:09Z")
Abaqus has symbol plots for vector and tensor outputs, including RF: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/f/f5a699556795f4ddcddeba612f64f270fb9ae9c4.png) But it also has a very useful Free body cut tool to display forces and moments (components or resultants) at any cross-section: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/5/544a3de0d506352803ab7c66662c715eaf936d51.png) ParaView also has symbol (glyph) plots that can be used for RF as well: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/a/a1606a4708d74439720a5190ccaa13fb827732fa.jpeg) FreeCAD has this VTK filter available since v 1.1, but it doesn’t store RF yet. ---
**Author:** ![arnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@arnie](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/arnie)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 5:28pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/reaction-force-vector-display/3228/3 "2026-02-01T17:28:06Z")
…something like this in Ansys Mechanical ![IMG_8003](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/5/5bb4fba1f96dc842965b4c4df6745cf1a5085ffc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![synt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/synt/32/4658_2.png) [@synt](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/synt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:35am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/reaction-force-vector-display/3228/4 "2026-02-02T11:35:14Z")
> [@FEAnalyst](#): > > But it also has a very useful Free body cut tool to display forces and moments (components or resultants) at any cross-section: maybe, this can be possible as extension of section print feature currently available. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 12:34pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/reaction-force-vector-display/3228/5 "2026-02-02T12:34:26Z")
> [@synt](#): > > maybe, this can be possible as extension of section print feature currently available. Free body cut based on a view cut in Abaqus simply integrates the stress field over the area. For beams and shells, it needs the section force/moment (SF/SM) output. There’s also more advanced Free body cut feature that can calculate the forces/moments for the selected edges/faces or elements/nodes, but it needs the NFORC (forces at the nodes of an element) output.