     
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Shell structures are generally used for automobile bodies or ship hull structures, because the thickness of the model is obviously thin compared with the size of the model. However, shell structures are often used also for electrical or mechanical products, or even plastic products, even though the thickness of the model is relatively thick compared with the size of the model.
This is done because a shell FEM model can represent the structural behavior more accurately with less DOFs than a solid FEM model.
In order to perform a shell analysis, the structure that has a thickness by nature must be modeled using shell elements that do not have a thickness. Generally, the shell is positioned in the center of the thickness.
 In order to represent the structure shown in Figure A using shell elements, the shell elements are placed along the midplane of the structure. However, in case of Figure B, the difference in the thicknesses will make it difficult to extract a midplane.
TechnoStar is now developing a new shell element for which the midplane can be automatically extracted.
Many applications have midplane extraction functions, but they all require manual modification which is very time consuming.
As a result, users choose to place the shell element on the surface of the plate and combine MPCs and offsets in order to model the structure.Even so, it will take a long time to create the model. However, in case of Figure B, the difference in the thicknesses will make it difficult to extract a midplane.
|
|
|
|
The below images show a sample model that was used to verify the midplane extraction function.
Although it looks like a simple model, it includes challenges such as different thicknesses, intersections of multiple materials, different fillets, etc. TSV-PRE was able to extract the midplane and mesh the model with just one click by the user.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
  
|
|
|
|
|
