Shell

• Function

Use Shell Wizard to auto-generate a rectangular box, cylindrical, spherical or semi-spherical shell structure composed of Plate Elements.

• Call

From the Main Menu select Model > Structure Wizard > Shell

Select Geometry > Structure Wizard > Shell from the Menu tab of the Tree Menu

• Entry

Input & Edit dialog box

 Input & Edit tab

Type
Select a shape (rectangular box, cylindrical, spherical or semi-spherical) of the shell structure.

B1, B2, B3, B4
For a rectangular box shape shell structure, enter the dimensions.

R1, R2
For a cylindrical shell structure, enter the lower (R1) and upper (R2) radii.
For a spherical or semispherical shell structure, enter the radius (R1).

H
For a rectangular box or cylindrical shell structure, enter the height.

Number of Divisions
Enter the numbers of divisions (m, n, l) in the shell structure.

Material
Enter the material property to be used.
Click to add a new material property or modify an existing material property.

Thickness
Enter the thickness to be used.
Click to add a new thickness or modify an existing thickness.

Insert dialog box

 Insert tab

Insert Point

Enter the coordinates of the insert point where the origin point of the created shell structure will be located in the existing model with respect to the GCS (UCS).
Alternatively, click the entry field and click the position of the insert point in the working window to enter the desired coordinates rather than typing in the entry field.

Rotations
Enter the rotational angles, Alpha, Beta and Gamma, that will define the orientation of the shell structure in GCS X, Y and Z respectively.

Merge Duplicate Nodes
Select the option whether to merge overlapping nodes between the existing model and the nodes pertaining to the newly created shell.

 : Set a tolerance for merging nodes.

Intersect Frame Elements
Select the option whether to divide the existing elements at the nodes pertaining to the newly created plate, which are in contact with the existing elements in the existing model.

 : Set an intersecting tolerance to allow for the division of elements.

Origin Point
Set the origin point of the newly created shell structure. This point is displayed in red in the Wizard Window.

Show No.: Display the node numbers making up the created shell structure.