Using shell/plate element types

Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.

Generate mesh with shell elements - Exercise

  1. Open the Fender.ipt part from your working folder.
  2. In the Environments tab>Begin panel, click Autodesk Inventor Nastran. 
  3. In the Autodesk Inventor Nastran tab>Prepare panel, click drop-down menu that says Offset Surfaces and select Midsurfaces. 
  4. Once the dialog box opens, click on the fender in the graphics window to select body<1>.

  5. Select OK to create the Midsurface. 
  6. In the Nastran Model Tree, note that Midsurface 1 is added under Part 1 and the idealization Midsurface 1 is added under Shells. Double-click on the idealization Midsurface 1 under Shells.

  7. In the Idealizations dialog box, note that the Type is now set to Shell Elements and that the thickness has been extracted, as shown below.

  8. Click OK. 
  9. In the Autodesk Inventor Nastran tab>Mesh panel, click Mesh Settings. 
  10. In the Mesh Settings dialog box, change the element size to 10mm.  
  11. Select OK to generate the mesh.



  12. In the Analysis tree, right click on Elements and select Displace Cross Section.



  13. In the graphics window you’ll notice the 3mm element thickness has been overlayed onto the 2D shell mesh.
  14. In the Analysis tree, right click on Analysis 2 – Offset Surfaces and select Activate.

  15. On the Prepare panel, select Offset Surfaces from the drop-down menu. 
  16. Click any face on the top of the fender. The tangent surfaces are automatically chained. 
  17. Change the Offset(mm) value to 1.5mm.



  18. Select OK to create the Offset Surface.
  19. Click Finish Autodesk Inventor Nastran and save the file.