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The sign convention used in the plate section is defined in this section. Notice that unlike some publications on this subject, the loading term p(x, y) points to the same direction as the z-axis. Please refer to the classical plate theory for more details.

For the sign of moment resultants, a moment caused by a positive stress with a positive arm is considered positive and the subscript of the stress is used to denote this moment.

Therefore, positive M_x points toward the y direction under the right-hand rule.