I am checking on thermal expansion of solar panel. I have tried with C3D20R element before. I used tie constraint and use predefined temperature on each layer of the solar panel. Now I just want to try it by using composite shell element S4R.
Dear Syahrim,
Shell element is defined in terms of 3 or 4 nodes. If we need to apply temperature on shell, it has to be applied on the nodes. Since, shell element has only one surface, it is not possible to apply temperature on top and bottom surface. Therefore, the temperature across the thickness will be uniform for the shell element.
The only way to consider temperature difference across the thickness is by modeling the thickness as you have already done using solid elements.
Regards,
Chandrashekhar
There is no theoretical reason why a shell cannot have a temperature gradient through the thickness direction. This can be done in Nastran and I would be surprised if there isn't a way in Abaqus.
To answer Andrew's concern, temperature gradient through thickness is also supported in abaqus. However, as per my understanding, different temperature cannot be applied on the top and bottom faces of S4R element. In other words, the temperature has to be applied as a boundary condition at nodes. In this scenario, temperature remains constant throughout the thickness for those elements.
Is there any shell element in Nastran on which different temperature can be applied on top and bottom faces (of the same element) as boundary condition?
Regards,
Chandrashekhar
Effectively thermo-elastic loading is adding a strain to the elements and as such temperatures should be applied to the elements and not nodes. In Nastran we can do both. In this way we can use a TEMPP1 entry to create a shell temperature with through thickness gradient, This is applicable to any shell element other than one with a composite material definition. Applying temperatures on nodes can raise other modelling issues. The strains have to be worked out from an interpolated temperature field on the element. This basically will cause an apparent "smoothing" of any temperature gradients which may not be what is wanted.
Dear Syahrim,
with shell elements, you can define through thickness gradients, or temperature at the section points, depending on if they are heat transfer or structural elements. Look at the manual to see how to define them.
Best regards,
David
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