Shell

This command allows to consider a batch of faces as a structure to mesh.

Frequently, the part coming from the R&D department is too detailed (fillets, small chamfers, or complete part while the analysis needs only a wireframe structure, ...). In these cases, the part to analyze has to be simplified without modifying the origin part. Modifications are done with all TopSolid sketch, shape and surface commands. After modifications, to be able to mesh these modified profiles, you need to generate shells with this command. If the modification result is a solid, use the Solid command, if the result is a sketch, use the Beam command.

A shell is a batch of faces without thickness.

Creation stages / Use:

Click the icon or select the Analysis > Shell... command from the drop-down menu.

Select shapes to analyze.
Select the material category and the material of the shell.
Enter a thickness.
Validate by clicking .

If several shapes have been selected, each shape can have is own thickness, but the material will be the same for all selected shapes. If the material has to be different, you have to select only shapes with the first material, validate the command, and select other shapes.

Converted shells with this command are listed in the Structures folder of the entities tree. Only entities from this folder can be meshed.
If several faces are selected and their thickness are different, the thickness is indicated between brackets ( for shapes with a different thickness regarding the default thickness of this command).

Modifications / Additional information:

By validating this command, the converted shells are listed in the Structures folder of the entities tree.