I’m a newcomer to PrePoMax and have a simple question about shells and membranes. I have a model (a STEP file which I created as an assembly in SolidWorks) consisting of 5 parts, one of which is a 1 µm thick flexible membrane which is several mm in diam and is supported by the other 4 parts. The membrane will have 1 atm of pressure applied to one side, and I want to model it as a 2-dimensional membrane part, just like I’ve done in ANSYS, but I don’t know how to get PrePoMax to recognize it as a membrane (or as a shell, for that matter). When I import the STEP file into PrePoMax it automatically calls the 5 parts “Solid_part-1” etc., and it seems insistent on only treating the parts as solid. How do I get the membrane (or shell) designation? In the tutorial videos I’ve watched on shell parts (I haven’t yet found one on membranes), when they import the STEP file into PrePoMax it immediately (almost magically) shows the part(s) as “Shell_part-1” etc. What is the magic incantation that I’m missing?
You have to import a part modeled as a surface (not solid/volume). Then it will be possible to mesh it with 2D elements and assign a shell or membrane section.
That would explain it – thanks!
Follow-up question: When I right-click on the imported “Solid_Part-1” and select Edit, it lists the Part type as “Solid as shell” – which seems very confusing. What exactly does that mean?
Here’s an explanation of this behavior: Why does a solid geometry convert to a shell part when imported in PrePoMax? - #3 by Matej
That resolves that confusion – thanks!