Reply To: shell element with orthotropic materials gives very different results from experimental data

[peteroznewman]

Shell elements have equations built-in to calculate bending behavior since each node has rotational degrees of freedom to represent bending. Solid elements do not have rotational degrees of freedom, only displacements, so a single layer can't represent bending accurately. You need many solid elements through the thickness to accurately capture the bending behavior and match the results from a shell element model. Solid-Shell elements have bending equations added to them, but I'm not sure if a single layer through the thickness is adequate. Perhaps others will comment.

The image of the material properties is not legible. Either attach a file of the full res image or make your window narrow and only take a screen snapshot of the material properties.

Cheers,

Peter