# Shell results visualization

**URL:** <https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/shell-results-visualization/3382>\
**Category:** General Questions\
**Tags:** results\
**Created:** [March 30, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/shell-results-visualization/3382 "2026-03-30T13:10:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lorebergo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@lorebergo](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/lorebergo)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/shell-results-visualization/3382/1 "2026-03-30T13:10:26Z")

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Good afternoon everyone,

I am dealing with 2D shell modelling: I have some difficulties checking results in correspondence of a small radius bending, since the expanded 3D visualization “overlaps” some elements in the area I am interested into (and where, obviously, maximum PE values are located). From images you can understand what I am meaning:

**FE model**

 ![mstsc_Kuf8lxgTgk](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/4/44d2f8f0619c874484ad780ca0dafaa7e29ccd24.jpeg)

**Results**

 ![vJ6NjIUSIe](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/a/a5d3aa5641c3c05a328a7a382bfe7438a10364cb.jpeg)

Is there a way to clearly visualize values in correspondance of bending radius?

Moreover: I am trying to implement Von Mises equation to extrapolate values at integration points, in case of shell element it would be:

![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/6/621197ed9a2252ba0934d70d3f11610cc30d1299.png)

What would be the correct syntax to insert in “From History Output by Equation”?  
Thank you very much!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/shell-results-visualization/3382/2 "2026-03-30T13:28:05Z")

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> [@lorebergo](#):
>
> I have some difficulties checking results in correspondence of a small radius bending, since the expanded 3D visualization “overlaps” some elements in the area I am interested into (and where, obviously, maximum PE values are located). From images you can understand what I am meaning:

If you set Output to 2D here:

 ![output 2D](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/0/09f34ff275f46380da54caa276aeff8e0a59ff5f.png)

you will get the results on non-expanded mesh, but with no bending stresses (averaging removes them).

This shell looks rather thick. Perhaps you could use regular solid elements at least for the filet (mixed meshes are possible thanks to tied contact and tie constraints: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc9Ln8zn3PE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc9Ln8zn3PE)). It can be done even in a separate analysis via submodeling. Or you could define composite shell section to have more layers of elements there (then they can be also hidden individually in the results).

> [@lorebergo](#):
>
> Moreover: I am trying to implement Von Mises equation to extrapolate values at integration points, in case of shell element it would be:
> 
> ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/6/621197ed9a2252ba0934d70d3f11610cc30d1299.png)
> 
> What would be the correct syntax to insert in “From History Output by Equation”?

CalculiX always reports averaged nodal stresses in field output (there’s no option to obtain integration point stresses this way). You could request history output and get the stresses from all the integration points of the selected elements in the form of a large table (the same form is obtained with the “From History Output by Equation” tool you’ve mentioned). Then there’s this script that could help here (or the workaround in ParaView mentioned in the original post of that thread): [Stresses at the integration points in ParaView - #2 by mkraska](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/stresses-at-the-integration-points-in-paraview/797/2)