I am running Force on cross-linked epoxies. I would like to take differences between configurations to try and partition the total free energy into the various bins that Forcite provides (e.g. van der Waals, Coulombic, etc.). An example of the output is shown at the bottom of this message. I notice that the total energy is positive, while other components such as van der Waals in this case are negative. How should I interpret the signs of the energy components? Would it be correct to interpret the negative energy values reported under non-bond energies, e.g. van der Waals and long-range correction as repulsive interactions while the Coulombic interaction would be attractive? Any help would be appreciated.

Total energy : 13131.826868 kcal/mol

Contributions to total energy (kcal/mol):

Valence energy (diag. terms) : 15092.153

Bond : 2592.271

Angle : 13194.634

Torsion : -841.689

Inversion : 146.937

Valence energy (cross terms) : -1530.627

Stretch-Stretch : 21.153

Stretch-Bend-Stretch : -191.443

Stretch-Torsion-Stretch : -191.115

Separated-Stretch-Stretch : 21.720

Torsion-Stretch : -925.901

Bend-Bend : -51.956

Torsion-Bend-Bend : -602.709

Bend-Torsion-Bend : 389.623

Non-bond energy : -429.699

van der Waals : -1166.321

Long range correction : -45.886

Electrostatic : 782.507