Empathy List Archives

xansys-temp@list.xansys.org

XANSYS Mailing List Home

SHELL element with variable thickness [APDL] [ANSYS]

Factoo,Anjum

Fri, May 30, 2025 3:11 PM

Hello all,

I have a cylindrical vessel which I have modelled using mid surface, most of the parts have constant thickness which can be assigned using sectype,,shell command followed by secdata. But one surface has variable thickness, which changes from 65mm to 110 mm.
I have defined a table using *DIM command which defines the thickness with Y-coordinates. I have assigned this to the sectype using SECFUNCTION command.

But when I mesh the surface, I don't see the tapered thickness, the EPLOT with /ESHAPE,on shows constant thickness (see plot below). How can I verify if the section thickness is defined correctly?

sectype,1,shell
*dim,var_thk,table,6,1
!Y-coordinates in meters
var_thk(1,0) = -1.405
var_thk(2,0) = -1.442
var_thk(3,0) = -1.479
var_thk(4,0) = -1.516
var_thk(5,0) = -1.553
var_thk(6,0) = -1.590
!thickness in meters
var_thk(1,1) = 0.110
var_thk(2,1) = 0.101
var_thk(3,1) = 0.092
var_thk(4,1) = 0.083
var_thk(5,1) = 0.074
var_thk(6,1) = 0.065
secfunction,%var_thk%

[cid:image001.png@01DBD1A3.2C486CE0]

Hello all, I have a cylindrical vessel which I have modelled using mid surface, most of the parts have constant thickness which can be assigned using sectype,,shell command followed by secdata. But one surface has variable thickness, which changes from 65mm to 110 mm. I have defined a table using *DIM command which defines the thickness with Y-coordinates. I have assigned this to the sectype using SECFUNCTION command. But when I mesh the surface, I don't see the tapered thickness, the EPLOT with /ESHAPE,on shows constant thickness (see plot below). How can I verify if the section thickness is defined correctly? sectype,1,shell *dim,var_thk,table,6,1 !Y-coordinates in meters var_thk(1,0) = -1.405 var_thk(2,0) = -1.442 var_thk(3,0) = -1.479 var_thk(4,0) = -1.516 var_thk(5,0) = -1.553 var_thk(6,0) = -1.590 !thickness in meters var_thk(1,1) = 0.110 var_thk(2,1) = 0.101 var_thk(3,1) = 0.092 var_thk(4,1) = 0.083 var_thk(5,1) = 0.074 var_thk(6,1) = 0.065 secfunction,%var_thk% [cid:image001.png@01DBD1A3.2C486CE0]

Factoo,Anjum

Tue, Jun 3, 2025 12:14 PM

Hello All,

I found the solution; I was not defining the variable parameter (Y) in the *DIM command. See attached picture after correction. It works now.

*dim,var_thk,table,6,1,,Y,,,0 [here 0 is coordinate system, here it is global cartesian]

Thanks
Anjum

-----Original Message-----
From: Factoo,Anjum via Xansys xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Sent: 30 May 2025 20:41
To: XANSYS Mailing List Home xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Cc: Factoo,Anjum FACTOOA@airproducts.com
Subject: [External] [Xansys] SHELL element with variable thickness [APDL] [ANSYS]

This email is from an external source. Please exercise caution in opening attachments or links.

Hello all,

But when I mesh the surface, I don't see the tapered thickness, the EPLOT with /ESHAPE,on shows constant thickness (see plot below). How can I verify if the section thickness is defined correctly?

[cid:image001.png@01DBD1A3.2C486CE0]

Hello All, I found the solution; I was not defining the variable parameter (Y) in the *DIM command. See attached picture after correction. It works now. *dim,var_thk,table,6,1,,Y,,,0 [here 0 is coordinate system, here it is global cartesian] Thanks Anjum -----Original Message----- From: Factoo,Anjum via Xansys <xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> Sent: 30 May 2025 20:41 To: XANSYS Mailing List Home <xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> Cc: Factoo,Anjum <FACTOOA@airproducts.com> Subject: [External] [Xansys] SHELL element with variable thickness [APDL] [ANSYS] This email is from an external source. Please exercise caution in opening attachments or links. Hello all, I have a cylindrical vessel which I have modelled using mid surface, most of the parts have constant thickness which can be assigned using sectype,,shell command followed by secdata. But one surface has variable thickness, which changes from 65mm to 110 mm. I have defined a table using *DIM command which defines the thickness with Y-coordinates. I have assigned this to the sectype using SECFUNCTION command. But when I mesh the surface, I don't see the tapered thickness, the EPLOT with /ESHAPE,on shows constant thickness (see plot below). How can I verify if the section thickness is defined correctly? sectype,1,shell *dim,var_thk,table,6,1 !Y-coordinates in meters var_thk(1,0) = -1.405 var_thk(2,0) = -1.442 var_thk(3,0) = -1.479 var_thk(4,0) = -1.516 var_thk(5,0) = -1.553 var_thk(6,0) = -1.590 !thickness in meters var_thk(1,1) = 0.110 var_thk(2,1) = 0.101 var_thk(3,1) = 0.092 var_thk(4,1) = 0.083 var_thk(5,1) = 0.074 var_thk(6,1) = 0.065 secfunction,%var_thk% [cid:image001.png@01DBD1A3.2C486CE0]