Sections of Solids

CHAPTER 1

Sections of Solids
1.1 Introduction:
The hidden or internal parts of an object are shown by sectional views in technical
drawings. The sectional view of an object is obtained by cutting through the object
by a suitable plane known as the section plane or cutting plane and removing the
portion lying between the plane and the observer. The surface produced by cutting
the object is called the section and its projection is called a sectional plan or
.sectional elevation. The section is indicated by thin section lines uniformly spaced

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Fig.1.1 Ref. [1]

1.2 Cutting Planes:
The following figure shows a section taken from a hexagonal prism.

Fig.1.2- Ref. [1]

EXAMPLE 1.1 Section plane parallel to VP

A cube of edge length 25 mm is resting on its base with one side face is inclined at
30o to the VP. It is cut by a section plane parallel to the VP and 15 mm from the
axis. Draw the sectional elevation view and the plan view of the cube. (Ref.[6])
Solution:

Draw the projections of the cube with its two side faces inclined at 30o to the VP
and the base on the ground by thin lines. As the base is on the ground, it will be
projected with its true shape (a square) in the plan view. Draw the square in the plan
view with the two sides inclined at 30o to the Y line.

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 Sections of Solids

EXAMPLE 1.2 Section plane parallel to HP

A rectangular pyramid, sides of base 30 x 50 mm and axis 80 mm long is resting on
the HP on its rectangular base with its axis is perpendicular to the HP. It is cut by a
horizontal section plane at a distance of 20 mm above the HP. Draw its front view,
side view and sectional top view. (Ref.[6])

b
EXAMPLE 1.3 Section plane inclined to the HP
A cone with base diameter 40 mm and axis 80 mm long is resting on the HP on its
base with its axis is perpendicular to the HP. It is cut by a section plane inclined to

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 Sections of Solids

the HP at 30o. Draw its front view and sectional top view. Draw the true shape of the
section. (Ref.[6])

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 Sections of Solids

EXAMPLE 1.4
Section of solids
obtained by
auxiliary vertical
planes
A pentagonal
pyramid with edge
25 mm and axis 60
mm is resting on its
base with its axis
perpendicular to the
HP, with one edge
inclined to the VP at
60o. It is cut by a
section plane
perpendicular to
both VP and HP.
The cutting plane
cuts the 60o inclined
edge at a distance Ref. [9]

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 Sections of Solids

15 mm from axis.
Draw the elevation,
plane and the
sectional side view.

EXAMPLE 1.5
A cube of edge length 35
mm is resting on its base
with its two sides faces
inclined at 45o to the VP. It
is cut by a section plane
perpendicular to the VP and
inclined at 30o to the HP.
The cutting plane bisects the
cube axis. Draw the
elevation and the sectional
plan view. With the help of
auxiliary planes, find the
true shape of the section.

Ref. [9]

Example 1.6
A cylinder of diameter 50 mm and length of the axis 65 mm has its axis parallel to
the VP and inclined at 30o to the HP. It is cut by a cutting plane perpendicular to the
HP, inclined at 30o to the VP and passing through a point P on the axis 25 mm from
the plan end. Draw the plan view, the sectional elevation view and the true shape of
the section of the cylinder
Solution:
1. Mark the XY line and the VP above the XY line and HP below the XY line.
Construct the plan view of the cylinder of diameter 50 mm such that the axis is
perpendicular to the HP. Draw its elevation view at a height of 65 mm
2. Tilt the axis at an inclination of 30o to the HP and draw its elevation view and
plan view, so that a1 is the intersection of projection lines from points a' and a,
 b1 is the intersection of projection lines from points b' and b.
 c1 is the intersection of projection lines from points c' and c.
 d1 is the intersection of projection lines from points d' and d.
 e1 is the intersection of projection lines from points e' and e.
 f1 is the intersection of projection lines from points f' and f
 g1 is the intersection of projection lines from points g' and g
 h1 is the intersection of projection lines from points h' and h
 i1 is the intersection of projection lines from points i' and i
 j1 is the intersection of projection lines from points j' and j

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 Sections of Solids

 k1 is the intersection of projection lines from points k' and k

 l1 is the intersection of projection lines from points l' and l
3. Join points a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 i1 j1 k1 l1 by a smooth curve
4. Mark a point p' on the axis, 25 mm from the plan end. Project this to the plan
view to get point p.
5. The cutting plane is perpendicular to the HP and inclined at 30o to the VP.
Therefore, draw the 30o inclined line to the VP through point P in the plan view.
6. The cutting plane cuts the cylinder at points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 in the plan
view.
7. Project the section points to the elevation view and mark those points as 1', 2', 3',
4', 5', 6', 7', 8', and 9' .
8. Join points 1' through 9'. The portion inside this loop is the sectional elevation
view. Join points 3' to a', a' to c', 7' to g' and f' to g'
9. The cutting plane is not parallel to the VP, therefore, the sectional elevation
view will not represent the true shape of the section
10. To get the true shape of the sectional elevation view, make the cutting plane
parallel to the VP.
11. Project all the points of the elevation view to get the true shape of the sectional
elevation view.
12. Draw projections lines from 1 to 9 from the cutting plane and also from 1'
through 9' from the elevation view.
13. Mark each intersection point as shown; 1'' is the intersection of lines 1 and 1'
 2'' is the intersection of lines 2 and 2', 3'' is the intersection of lines 3 and 3'
 4'' is the intersection of lines 4 and 4', 5'' is the intersection of lines 5 and 5'
 6'' is the intersection of lines 6 and 6', 7'' is the intersection of lines 7 and 7'
 8'' is the intersection of lines 8 and 8', 9'' is the intersection of lines 9 and 9'
14. Join the points 1'' through 9'' with a tick line. The hatched portion shows the true
shape.

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Problems:
1. A hexagonal pyramid with edge 25 mm and axis 60 mm is resting on its base with its
axis perpendicular to the HP. It is cut by a section plane parallel to HP and at 20 mm
above HP. Draw the elevation and the sectional plan view.
2. A rectangular prism with base 30 mm x 40 mm and axis 60 mm is resting on its base
with its two sides faces inclined at 45o to the VP. It is cut by a section plane parallel to
the VP and 15 mm from the axis. Draw the sectional elevation view and the plan view
of the cube.
3. A cone with base diameter 50 mm and axis 80 mm is resting on its base with its axis
perpendicular to the HP. It is cut by a section plane parallel to HP and at 20 mm above
HP. Draw the elevation and the sectional plan view.
4. A cone with base diameter 40 mm and axis 60 mm is resting on its base with its axis is
perpendicular to the HP. It is cut by a section plane parallel to the VP and 15 mm from
the axis. Draw the sectional elevation view and the plan view of the cube.
5. A cone with base diameter 40 mm and axis 80 mm is resting on its base with its axis
perpendicular to the HP. It is cut by a section plane perpendicular to both VP and HP.
The cutting plane cuts the base at a distance 15 mm from its circumferential circle.
Draw the elevation, plane and the sectional side view.
A triangular prism, side of base 30 mm and axis 50 mm long is lying on the HP on one .6
of its rectangular faces with its axis inclined at 30° to the VP. It is cut by a horizontal
section plane at a distance of 12 mm above the ground. Draw its front view, side view
.and sectional top view
7. A cylinder with base diameter 50 mm and axis length 80 mm resting on its base with its
axis is perpendicular to HP. It is cut by a section plane perpendicular to the VP and
inclined at 45o to the HP. The cutting plane cuts the upper base of the cylinder at a point
5 mm from its circumferential circle. Draw the elevation and the sectional plan view.
With the help of auxiliary planes, find the true shape of the section.
8. A pentagonal pyramid of side of base 30 mm and axis 65 mm long, is resting on its
base and axis is perpendicular to HP. It is cut by a plane inclined at 45o to the HP. If the
cutting plane bisects the pyramid axis, draw its front view and sectional top view. By
the help of auxiliary projections, find the true shape of the section.
9. A hexagonal prism of side of base 30 mm and axis 65 mm long, is resting on its base
and axis is perpendicular to HP. It is cut by a plane inclined at 30o to the VP. If the
cutting plane cuts the prism base at distance 15 mm from axis, draw its front sectional
view and top view. By the help of auxiliary projections, find the true shape of the
section.
10. A pentagonal pyramid, side of base 30 mm and axis 65 mm long, has its base horizontal
and an edge of the base parallel to the VP. A horizontal section plane cuts it at a
distance of 25 mm above the base. Draw its front view and sectional top view.
11. A pentagonal pyramid has its base on the HP. Base of the pyramid is 30 mm in side,
axis 50 mm long. The edge of the base nearer to VP is parallel to it. A vertical section
plane, inclined at 45 to the VP, cuts the pyramid at a distance of 6 mm from the axis.
Draw the top view, sectional front view and the auxiliary front view on an AVP parallel
to the section plane.
12. A cylinder of 40 mm diameter, 60 mm height and having its axis vertical is cut by a
section plane, perpendicular to the VP, inclined at 45 to the HP and intersecting the axis
32 mm above the base. Draw its front view, sectional top view, sectional side view and
the true shape of the section.
13. A cube of 70 mm long edges has its vertical faces equally inclined to the VP. It is cut
by an AIP in such a way that the true shape of the cut part is a regular hexagon.
Determine the inclination of the cutting plane with the HP. Draw FV, sectional TV and
true shape of the section.

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