Create and Edit a Shell

A shell is a two-dimensional flat panel structural element that supports bending and in-plane deformation modes.

  1. From the Model ribbon, click the Structural > Shell tool.
    Figure 1.


  2. From the guide bar, select the type of shell you wan to create: Singly or Doubly.
    Figure 2.


  3. Create a shell.
    1. Left-click in the modeling window to select a point or node until you are able to create a shell.
    2. After selecting more than two points, a microdialog is displayed that you can use to assign properties, , and damping, .
      Figure 3.


      Figure 4.


      Figure 5.


    3. Specify the name in the microdialog.
    4. Click and assign properties and damping, respectively. Click when finished.
    5. From the guide bar, click Create to create a shell.
      Figure 6.


      The required parameters to create the shell subsystem are updated.

  4. From the microdialog, click to edit the subsystem and update the parameters.
    Figure 7.


    Figure 8. Shell Entity Editor


    Name
    Specify unique name.
    ID
    Specify unique ID.
    Config
    Specify the element type.
    Property
    Specify the property parameter based on the element type.
    Damping
    Specify damping to the subsystem.
    Geometry
    Based on the element type, update the geometry parameters.
    Generally, the geometry is automatically updated from the user-defined geometry. You can modify the geometry information by clicking User Defined as shown below.
    Figure 9.


    Use the Thick Shell option to control which formulation to use. This option is on by default. To use the previous formulation, deselect the option.
    Subsystem Options
    For experienced users, expand the Subsystem Options to change the default choices for the SEA Subsystems for all element types. For certain structural element types, use these options to adjust the default bending stiffness or conductance of the element and add non-structural mass, component mass, or fluid loading to the element when the options have been changed.
    Damping
    Assign a damping model to the element. From the Damping field drop-down menu, select a damping model. This list contains all predefined models which apply to the current element type. Click to display advanced damping options that you can use to define additional damping models.
    Properties
    Assign a property model to the element. From the Property field drop-down menu, select a property model. The element materials and cross-sectional parameters defined in the selected Property record are displayed. Property records can be used to simplify the model definition in cases where many elements have the same properties. Click to display advanced property options that you can use to define additional property models.
    Figure 10.