Reply To: Problems with CDB file from MAPDL to Workbench and Pressure Mapping

[mjmiddle]

The External Model cannot import all materials and setup that you could do in APDL. The capabilites increase with later versions, so you should always use the latest version possible when doing this. Refer to the introductory page for External Model import:

https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/corp/v242/en/wb_sim/ds_external_model_import.html

For import of composite layers, see this subsection page:

https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/corp/v242/en/wb_sim/ds_import_mesh_dB_composite.html

However, the shell7.src from the repository contains shell91 elements which are legacy, and the last version to use them was Ansys 2021 R2:

https://innovationspace.ansys.com/forum/forums/topic/has-shell91-been-removed-with-ansys-2022-r1/

The External Model system only imports mesh. It creates a synthesized geometry from the faces of the mesh. In the case of this model, with all shells, they are all grouped into one surface. You cannot remesh this in Ansys Mechanical. There are no clearly defined patches of surfaces to mesh. All the shell elements are looped into one geometry surface. You could export the pmdb format and import into SpaceClaim and use the skin tool to create patches of CAD geometry surfaces over it. Then it's a real CAD geometry you could export in many other formats, and remesh in Ansys Mechanical. However, all the ply assignments will be gone.

Using Ansys 2021 R2, I did have to link the External Model to the Engineering Data and Model cells (tested on Windows), but I can see it imported the material assignments on the layers of the plies:

I don't have all the answers for doing everything in MAPDL, but mapping a load in MAPDL would require the *MOPER with Oper=Map:

https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/corp/v242/en/ans_cmd/Hlp_C_MOPER.html

But there are quite a few other commands involves in setting it up.