Beams and Trusses Contents Beams and Trusses Overview You can simplify structural beams to optimize performance in Simulation to be modeled with beam elements. The size of the problem and the resources required are dramatically reduced in this case. For the beam formulation to produce acceptable results, the length of the beam should be 10 times larger than the largest dimension of its cross section. Beams Beam Directions Trusses Performing Analysis Using Beams or Trusses Identify Neutral Axis PropertyManager The Identify Neutral Axis tool lets you override the neutral axes of beams automatically selected by the program. Curved Structural Member Invalid Tapered Beams In the Simulation study tree, right-click a solid body and select Treat as Beam. A tapered beam icon appears in the study tree if the solid body has a taper along its length. Parent topicAnalysis Background Related concepts Linear Static Analysis Frequency Analysis Dynamic Analysis Thermal Analysis Nonlinear Static Analysis Drop Test Studies Fatigue Analysis Pressure Vessel Design Overview 2D Simplification Related reference Linearized Buckling Analysis