*ELEMENT_SHELL

LS-DYNA Input Interface KeywordDefines a shell element with 3 or 4 nodes.

Format

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
*ELEMENT_SHELL_{OPTION}
EID part_ID N1 N2 N3 N4
If OPTION = THICKNESS, insert the following line.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
T1 T2 T3 T4
If OPTION = BETA, insert the following line.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
T1 T2 T3 T4 BETA

Definition

Field Contents SI Unit Example
OPTION Optional flags:
THICKNESS
To input the thickness at each node.
BETA
To input orthotropy angle.
EID Element identifier.

(Integer)

part_ID Part identifier.

(Integer)

N1, N2, N3, N4 Node ID.

(Integer)

T1, T2, T3, T4 Optional thickness at each node. Only used when OPTION=THICKNESS.

(Real)

BETA Orthotropy angle to node N1, N2. 3

(Real)

Comments

  1. This keyword maps to /SHELL, if 4 nodes are entered and /SH3N, if 3 nodes are entered.
  2. When the node thickness is entered, an average element thickness is used in the calculation.
  3. Orthotropy angle is defined from node N1 and N2 of the element:
    Figure 1.