The temperature on the top surface is degree of freedom. The temperature on the bottom surface of the shell (the surface in the negative direction along the shell normal-see ∽efining the initial geometry of conventional shell elements, Section 15.6.3) is degree of freedom 11. Only Simpson's rule can be used for integration through the shell thickness. For shell sections integrated during the analysis ( Using a shell section integrated during the analysis to define the section behavior, Section 15.6.5) you can specify the number of section points used for cross-section integration and thickness-direction temperature interpolation at each node. The temperature variation is assumed to be piecewise quadratic through the thickness, while the interpolation on the reference surface of the shell is the same as that of the corresponding stress elements. Temperature variation through the shell thickness The thickness strain mode may yield a small stable time increment for thin continuum shell elements in ABAQUS/Explicit (see Shell section behavior, Section 15.6.4).Ĭontinuum shell elements are more accurate in contact modeling than conventional shells, since they employ two-sided contact taking into account changes in thickness no matter how thick the elements are compared to other element dimensions.
Stacking continuum shell elements allows for a richer transverse force prediction and allows for the prediction of through-thickness pinching force. Unlike conventional shells, continuum shell elements can be stacked to provide more refined through-thickness response. These elements include the effects of transverse shear deformation and thickness change.Ĭontinuum shell elements employ first-order layer-wise composite theory. The continuum shell elements are general-purpose shells that allow finite membrane deformation and large rotations and, thus, are suitable for nonlinear geometric analysis. These elements have displacement degrees of freedom only, use linear interpolation, and allow mechanical and/or thermal (uncoupled) loading for static and dynamic procedures. Continuum shells discretize an entire three-dimensional body, unlike conventional shells which discretize a reference surface (see Shell elements: overview, Section 15.6.1). The stress/displacement continuum shell elements in ABAQUS can be used in three-dimensional analysis.