*ELEMENT_SHELL

LS-DYNA Input Interface KeywordDefines a shell element with 3 or 4 nodes.

Format

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
*ELEMENT_SHELL_{OPTION}
EID part_ID N1 N2 N3 N4
If OPTION = THICKNESS, insert the following line.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
T1 T2 T3 T4

Definition

Field Contents SI Unit Example
OPTION
THICKNESS
Optional flag to input the thickness at each node.
EID Element identifier.

(Integer)
part_ID Part identifier.

(Integer)
N1, N2, N3, N4 Node ID.

(Integer)
T1, T2, T3, T4 Optional thickness at each node. Only used when OPTION=THICKNESS.

(Real)

Comments

  1. This keyword maps to /SHELL, if 4 nodes are entered and /SH3N, if 3 nodes are entered.
  2. When the node thickness is entered, an average element thickness is used in the calculation.