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About Shell Elements
About Shell Elements
Conventions
The conventions that are used for shell elements are defined below.
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For SAXA elements (Axisymmetric shell elements with nonlinear, asymmetric deformation) any anisotropic material definition must be symmetric with respect to the r–z
plane at θ = 0 and π.
In large-deformation (geometrically nonlinear) analysis these local directions rotate with the average rotation of the surface at that point. They are output as directions in
the current configuration except in the shell elements in Abaqus/Standard that provide only large rotation but small strain (element types STRI3, STRI65, S4R5, S8R, S8RT,
S8R5, S9R5—see Choosing a shell element), where they are output as directions in the reference configuration. Therefore, in geometrically nonlinear analysis, when
displaying these directions or when displaying principal values of stress, strain, or section forces or moments in Abaqus/CAE, the current (deformed) configuration should be
used except for the small-strain elements in Abaqus/Standard, for which the reference configuration should be used.
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Figure 4. Default normals and thickness direction for continuum shell elements.
It is important that the continuum shells are oriented properly, since the behavior in the thickness direction is different from that in the in-plane directions. By default, the
element top and bottom faces and, hence, the element normal, stacking direction, and thickness direction are defined by the nodal connectivity. For the triangular in-plane
continuum shell element (SC6R) the face with corner nodes 1, 2, and 3 is the bottom face; and the face with corner nodes 4, 5, and 6 is the top face. For the quadrilateral
continuum shell element (SC8R) the face with corner nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 is the bottom face; and the face with corner nodes 5, 6, 7, and 8 is the top face. The stacking
direction and thickness direction are both defined to be the direction from the bottom face to the top face. Additional options for defining the element thickness direction,
including one option that is independent of nodal connectivity, are presented below.
Surfaces on continuum shells can be defined by specifying the face identifiers S1–S6 identifying the individual faces as defined in Continuum shell element library. Free
surface generation can also be used.
Pressure loads applied to faces P1–P6 are defined similar to continuum elements, with a positive pressure directed into the element.
The pinched cylinder problem and LE3: Hemispherical shell with point loads illustrate the use of a cylindrical and spherical orientation system, respectively, to define the
stack and thickness direction independent of nodal connectivity.
Input File Usage:
Use one of the following options to define the element stacking direction based on a user-defined orientation:
*SHELL SECTION, STACK DIRECTION=ORIENTATION, ORIENTATION=name
*SHELL GENERAL SECTION, STACK DIRECTION=ORIENTATION,
ORIENTATION=name
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Use the following option to define the stacking direction based on a user-defined orientation if the continuum shell is defined using a composite layup:
Property module: Create Composite Layup: select Continuum Shell as the Element Type: Stacking Direction: Layup orientation
Use the following option to define the stacking direction based on a user-defined orientation if the continuum shell is defined using a composite shell section:
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Assign > Material Orientation: select regions: Use Default Orientation or Other Method: Stacking Direction: Normal direction of material orientation
Verifying the element stack and thickness direction
You can verify the element stack and thickness direction visually in Abaqus/CAE by either contouring the element section thickness or plotting the material axis. Generally,
the in-plane dimensions are significantly larger than the element thickness. By contouring the shell section thickness, output variable STH, you can easily verify that all
elements are oriented appropriately and have the correct thickness. If the element is oriented improperly, one of the in-plane dimensions will become the element section
thickness, resulting in a discontinuous contour plot.
Alternatively, you can plot the material axis to verify that the 3-axis points in the desired normal direction. If the element is oriented improperly, one of the in-plane axes
(either the 1- or 2-axis) would point in the normal direction.
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