You can use the following selection methods to specify the items that will be contained in a free body cross-section:
To specify edges or faces by picking them directly from the viewport, select Surfaces from the Item list, then select Pick from viewport from the Method list. Abaqus/CAE automatically enters the pick mode and prompts you to select items for the display group. See Chapter 6, “Selecting objects within the viewport,” for more information on picking items in the viewport.
Click Done in the prompt area when you have finished picking items in the viewport.
Click Edit selection, Add selection, or Delete selection in the dialog box to further modify your viewport selections.
To specify elements or nodes by number, select Element labels or Node labels from the Method list. Select the name of the part instance to which the nodes or elements belong from the list in the Part instance field on the right side of the Free Body Cross-Section dialog box. In the Labels field, type a list of element or node numbers separated by commas or a range of numbers optionally followed by an increment; for example, 1:10 or 1:10:2.
You can specify elements or nodes by number when you create a free body cross-section using the Elements and nodes selection method.
To specify element, node, or surface sets, select Element sets, Node sets, or Surface sets from the Method list. A list of the available set names in your model appears on the right side of the Free Body Cross-Section dialog box. Select one or more set names from this list (see “Selecting multiple items from lists and tables,” Section 3.2.11, for more information).
If you selected Display groups from the Item list, a list of the available display groups in your model appears on the right side of the Free Body Cross-Section dialog box. Select one or more display group names from this list (see “Selecting multiple items from lists and tables,” Section 3.2.11, for more information).