1. Workshop 3 Various Workshops for SOLSH190 Solid-Shell Element
SOLSH190 Comparisons to SOLID185 and SHELL181 in Cantilever Beam Modal and Static Tip Deflection Analyses and a SOLSH190 Large Deformation Plasticity Analysis with Contact

2. SOLSH190 Solid-Shell Element
This workshop compares the new solid- shell element, SOLSH190, to the existing SOLID185 and SHELL181 elements.
The comparisons include cantilever beam modal and static tip deflection analyses. For the SOLID185 and SOLSH190 models, you can select either one or two elements through the thickness of the beam.
In addition, a large deformation analysis with plasticity and contact is available to demonstrate the SOLSH190 capability.
To begin the workshop, just read in the input file, solsh190_work.inp
Close the ANSYS Lister Window (see list to the right) after deciding which analysis to run and then enter the corresponding “nflag” number at the input *ASK prompt.
The workshop does not require any user intervention, as the input displays the important features and pauses for your review. The results are now summarized.
nflag = 0 = SOLSH190 Plasticity with Contact Workshop (default)
nflag = 1 = SOLSH190 Cantilever Beam Modal Analysis (1 element thick)
nflag = 2 = SOLSH190 Cantilever Beam Modal Analysis (2 elements thick)
nflag = 3 = SOLID185 Cantilever Beam Modal Analysis (1 element thick)
nflag = 4 = SOLID185 Cantilever Beam Modal Analysis (2 elements thick)
nflag = 5 = SHELL181 Cantilever Beam Modal Analysis (1 element thick)
nflag = 6 = SOLSH190 Cantilever Beam Static Tip Load (1 element thick)
nflag = 7 = SOLSH190 Cantilever Beam Static Tip Load (2 elements thick)
nflag = 8 = SOLID185 Cantilever Beam Static Tip Load (1 element thick)
nflag = 9 = SOLID185 Cantilever Beam Static Tip Load (2 elements thick)
nflag = 10 = SHELL181 Cantilever Beam Static Tip Load (1 element thick)

3. SOLSH190 Solid-Shell Element
Models “1” through “5” are modal analyses of cantilever beams. The SOLSH190 element model with one element through the thickness gives the best correlation to the SHELL181 model.
The results for the three models with one element through the thickness are shown below. The results for the models with two elements through the thickness were not as good, so they are not shown here. However, all of the results are given at the end of the heavily commented input file.
nflag = 1 = SOLSH190 Modal Analysis
MODE FREQUENCY (HERTZ)
nflag = 3 = SOLID185 Modal Analysis
MODE FREQUENCY (HERTZ)
nflag = 5 = SHELL181 Modal Analysis
MODE FREQUENCY (HERTZ)

4. SOLSH190 Solid-Shell Element
Models “6” through “10” are cantilever beam tip-deflection static analyses. As before, the SOLSH190 element model with one element through the thickness gives the best correlation to the SHELL181 model. The results for all five tip-deflection static analyses are shown below.
Tip Deflections for Thin Cantilever Beams with 100 lbf Tip Load:
nflag = 6 = SOLSH190 (1 element thick) >>> TIPDEFL = ”
nflag = 7 = SOLSH190 (2 elements thick) >>> TIPDEFL = ”
nflag = 8 = SOLID185 (1 element thick) >>> TIPDEFL = ”
nflag = 9 = SOLID185 (2 elements thick) >>> TIPDEFL = ”
nflag = 10 = SHELL181 (1 element thick) >>> TIPDEFL = ”

5. SOLSH190 Solid-Shell Element
Model “0” is the large deformation, plasticity analysis with contact (the default workshop selection).
Half-symmetry about the Y-Z plane is used to model a rigid target cylinder pushing upwards on a SOLSH190 tapered beam (cyan-colored elements) connected to SOLID185 columns (purple-colored elements).
The SOLSH190 elements are stacked two through the thickness to allow 4 integration points in that direction.
The SOLSH190 elements are joined to the SOLID185 elements by virtue of the same nodes used for each.
The base of the column is fixed.
Rigid Target Cylinder at Symmetry Plane
Common Nodes
SOLSH190’s
SOLID185’s
Base Fixed

6. SOLSH190 Solid-Shell Element
Element Z-axis shown in BLUE …
Prior to issuing the VMESH,ALL command, the new VEORIENT, , THIN command is issued to force the SOLSH190 local Z-direction to be in the through-thickness direction. The workshop pauses for a few seconds so that you can see the correct orientation (bottom right picture).
There are other options than “THIN” for this command. Without the VEORIENT command, the elements would have been incorrectly aligned (top right picture).
Alternatively, the EORIENT command can be used to set the element coordinate system. However, this method requires that you first define a local coordinate system, assign the coordinate system to the elements with the EMODIF command, and then re-construct the elements with EORIENT to get the desired orientation.

7. SOLSH190 Solid-Shell Element
Nice Transition Region …
No Contact Penetration …
Plastic Strain
Stress
Equivalent stress and equivalent plastic strain plots are shown to the right (top and bottom plots, respectively).
Note: Stacking the SOLSH190 elements to get more than two integration points through the thickness will not be necessary in a later release, as SECTION properties will be supported, allowing composite laminate construction in a single element.
Contact recognizes the outer surface of the SOLSH190’s and the interface with the SOLID185 elements transfers the loads correctly.

8. SOLSH190 Solid-Shell Element
As an additional exercise, please review the input file labeled solsh190_ref.inp
This reference file compares SOLSH190 to SOLID185 for three different, circular, flat plate configurations. Each is loaded with a uniform pressure and clamped around the outer edge.
The three variable-thickness designs are:
Thinner at the Center (n = -4)
Constant Thickness (n = 0)
Thicker at the Center (n = 4)
For the large in-plane dimensions compared to the thickness of the elements, the new SOLSH190 elements are vastly superior to the existing SOLID185 elements. The new elements do not require multiple elements through the thickness for this linearly elastic static analysis.
Variable Thickness “Flat” Circular Plate
Clamped Edge
¼ Symmetry Model Used
Uniform Pressure Load

9. SOLSH190 Solid-Shell Element
Reference input solsh190_ref.inp is fully commented, including details on the theoretical source for this model …
Theoretical Deflections:
1.3604" for n = -4
3.5563" for n = 0
9.1146" for n = 4
Deflections for Element Type SOLSH190:
1.3570" for n = -4
3.5540" for n = 0
9.1270" for n = 4
Deflections for Element Type SOLID185:
1.0360" for n = -4
2.3530" for n = 0
4.5440" for n = 4
Maximum Deflection