Defining a Shell Section

You can apply a shell section to define a structure in which one dimension (the thickness) is significantly smaller than the other two dimensions. The stresses in the thickness direction must also be negligible, and the app approximates the heat flux in the shell normal direction with a linear temperature distribution.

See Also
About Shell Sections
  1. From the Finite Elements section of the action bar, click Shell Section .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. Select a geometry support.

    You apply a shell section to one or more surface geometries. They must be the same surface features that are used as the supports for the corresponding mesh part in the FEM representation. You can also use geometry from an ordered geometric set.

    Tip: You can also assign local shell sections using the tools in the context toolbar. Click to assign a shell property to a group of faces, or click to assign a shell property to multiple surfaces that you select using the propagation method.

    If the support you select already has a material assigned to it, the Material field displays the material that is applied to the support.
  4. Enter a value for the Thickness throughout the entire shell.
  5. Optional: If no material is assigned or you want to override the existing material assignment, do the following:
    1. Click .
      The Material Palette appears.
    2. Search for the material you want to assign, and click it.
    3. Click OK to close the Material Palette.
    The Material field displays the newly applied material.
  6. Select a material Behavior to be used in the simulation.
  7. Optional: If the materials in your model exhibit directional properties, define their orientation as part of the shell section definition. For more information, see Defining Material Orientations for Shell Sections.
  8. Click OK.