ESHAPE should enable thickness plots of shell elements

[willi-z]

When using SHELL-Elements with multiple layers eshape does not enable the plotting of the individual thicknesses.

Example:

from ansys.mapdl.core import launch_mapdl

mapdl = launch_mapdl()
mapdl.finish()
mapdl.run("/clear")
mapdl.prep7()

mapdl.et(1, "SHELL181")
mapdl.mp("EX", 1, 2e5)
mapdl.mp("PRXY", 1, 0.3)

mapdl.et(2, "SHELL181")  # weaker layer
mapdl.mp("EX", 1, 1e5)
mapdl.mp("PRXY", 1, 0.3)

mapdl.rectng(0, 1, 0, 1)
mapdl.sectype(1, "SHELL")
mapdl.secdata(0.1, 1)  # bottom layer with thickness = 0.1
mapdl.secdata(0.2, 1)  # middle layer with thickness = 0.2
mapdl.secdata(0.1, 1)  # top layer with thickness = 0.1
mapdl.esize(0.2)
mapdl.amesh("all")
mapdl.eshape(1)  # should enables thickness plots
mapdl.eplot()

Results in: But it would be good if it looks more like:

I am aware that it is possible to use solids instead, but especially in the context of composite modelling this kind approach, can become tedious and computational expensive. Further, it would be awesome if the "solification" of the shell elements would also work for stress- and strain plots.

Best Regards,

Willi

[akaszynski]

I fully agree with this; we're going to have to figure out how to send over the state of the shell elements and then enable this within our VTK plotter.

Adding this to the feature request list.