The canvas is the main working area where you draw and edit your structural model.

Here you can:

• create nodes and elements,
• copy or delete objects,

Most interactions happen directly on the canvas using both mouse buttons and keyboard. For example you can use Ctrl+left mouse button to select multiple elements.

Right-click anywhere on the canvas to open the context menu.

This menu changes depending on what you click:

• Empty space → add note
• Node → copy, delete or add hinge
• Rod → delete

The context menu is the fastest way to work in RodX.

The Model Tree displays the structure of your project in a hierarchical list.

It contains:

• Nodes
• Elements
• Supports
• Loads
• Materials
• Sections

You can expand/collapse categories and click any item to select and edit it.

The Model Tree provides a clear overview of your model and is useful for managing large projects.

When you select any object (node, rod), its attributes appear in the Properties Panel.

From here you can edit:

• coordinates,
• material and section assignment,
• load values,
• support conditions,
• load case membership,
• visibility options, and more.

All model parameters are editable through this panel.

The toolbar contains essential tools and display options:

• File
• Undo/Redo
• Properties (Materials, Sections)
• Load Cases (includes Load Combinations window)
• Visibility (Node & Rod numbers, sections, Loads)
• Analyze button
• Results

The toolbar provides quick access to commonly used features while keeping the interface clean.

RodX is optimized for fast modeling using of mouse:

• Left-click — create nodes, create rods, select elements
• Right-click — open context menu
• Mouse wheel — zoom
• Middle-click/hold wheel — pan

Nodes are the fundamental points of the model. They define geometry and connect structural elements.

You can:

• create nodes directly on the canvas just clicking left button,
• snap nodes to grid points,
• edit coordinates in the Properties Panel,
• copy the node to the desired distance and number of times through the context menu.
• Create nodes by intersecting rods.

Nodes also serve as:

• locations for supports,
• points where loads can be applied,
• connection points between elements.

RodX supports two types of 1D elements:

Beam Element

A beam element resists:

• axial forces (N),
• shear forces (Q),
• bending moments (M).

For beam elements, shear deformations are not considered at this stage.

Truss Element

A truss element carries only axial force (tension/compression). It has no bending stiffness.

You can:

• change element type of the rod in properties panel,
• split rod into equal pieces in properties panel,
• rotate a beta-angle of the rod section in properties panel or clicking on section icon directly on the canvas.

The beta angle rotates the element’s local coordinate system. It is measured in degrees, counterclockwise, and is useful when:

• the section has different Ixx/Iyy values.

If no rotation is needed, leave beta = 0°.

Every element must have a material that defines:

• Elastic modulus (E)
• Poisson’s ratio (ν)
• Density (ρ)

RodX includes a library of standard steel grades (EU/US), and you can define custom materials.

Material assignments happen manually via the Properties Panel. Add materials to the model before assigning it to the rod.

Sections define the geometric properties of an element:

• Area (A)
• Moments of inertia (I11, I22)
• Centroid coordinates

RodX includes:

• Common steel profiles (I-beams, channels, angles, tubes, etc.)
• Rectangular and circular shapes
• Custom sections (manually entered)

Assign a section by:

• selecting the element,
• choosing from the drop-down list in the Properties Panel. Add sections to the model before assigning it to the rod.

You can define supports with arbitrary restraint patterns for dx, dy, and dr.

Common presets include:

• Fixed
• Pinned
• Roller

These are simply predefined combinations; you may adjust DOF manually for custom conditions.

• Hinge (release) — dr free at a node or element end; no moment transfer.
• Semi-rigid hinge — finite rotational stiffness using kr; partial moment transfer.

Creating, editing, and removing a hinge is done through the context menu (right-click on a node or an element end).

Elastic restraints provide spring stiffness in any DOF:

• kx (horizontal)
• ky (vertical)
• kr (rotational)

Useful for soil springs, flexible bearings, or partially restrained connections.

Creating, editing, and removing elastic support is done through the properties panel.

Node loads are applied at the Properties Panel.

Supported types:

• Fx, Fy — point forces
• Mz — point moment (out-of-plane)

Node loads belong to a specific load case selected during assignment. A load can be reassigned to a different load case at any time through the Load Cases window. By default, all newly created loads are placed into LC0 – Default Case, unless another load case is selected.

Element loads act along the length of a beam element.

RodX supports:

• Uniform distributed load (constant q)
• Local or global orientation depending on element direction and load definition

Loads are defined and deleted via the Properties Panel.

If enabled, self-weight is generated automatically from:

• material density,
• element section.

Self-weight is applied as an element load via Load Cases window.

Load cases group loads into independent scenarios that are analyzed separately.

Key points:

• Loads are always assigned to a specific load case.
• By default, all new loads are placed in LC0 – Default Case, unless another case is selected.
• The active load case defines which loads are shown on the canvas.
• Creating, editing, and deleting a load case is done through the Load Case window.
• A load can be reassigned to a different case through the Load Cases window.

Load combinations are linear combinations of load cases with user-defined factors.

Features:

• You may create any number of combinations.
• Each combination references multiple load cases with coefficients (e.g., 1.35 DL + 1.5 LL).
• Editing combinations do not require recalculating individual load cases.

Load combinations can be created at any time, even before running the analysis. They become available for result visualization once all load cases included in the combination have been analyzed.