How to create an axisymmetric shell in ANSYS APDL?

[F. S. Farimani]

Following this question, I want to create an axisymmetric shell in ANSYS APDL. For example in Gmsh I would:

mes = 0.1; // mesh element size
Point(1) = {0, 0, 0, mes};
Point(2) = {1, 1, 0, mes};
Line(1) = {1, 2};
Extrude {{0, 1, 0}, {0, 0, 0}, 2*Pi} {
    Curve{1};
}

For APDL I think it should be like

/PREP7
Pi = ACOS(-1)

K, 1, 0, 0, 0
K, 2, 1, 1, 0
! define a line
! revolve the line around Y axis
ET, 1, SHELL208 ! the axisymmetric shell element
AMESH, ALL ! mesh all areas

I have no clue how to define a line, nor how to revolve it around an axis. There is the `L` command (ref) but it doesn't have any numbering/labeling. And there is also an `EEXTRUDE` command (ref) to extrude to

Extrudes 2-D plane elements into 3-D solids during a 2-D to 3-D analysis.

but I can't find a command to revolve a 2D element around an axis of choice.

P.S.1. Direct invitation link to the ANSYS Discord channel

P.S.2. This is a replicate of this Reddit question.

 

[petb]

Hi!

Shell 208 is a 2-node axisymmetric element. To see the use of this element look at VM13.dat in the Ansys verification manual. From your post I assume you want to create an axisymmetric model using regular shell elements, not use axisymmetric elements? If so, you can either use keypoints and lines to create areas and mesh the areas, or generate nodes and create your elements directly.

Example using lines and keypoints
[pre]
/prep7

k,1,0.5
k,2,1,1
k,3,0,1 !keypoints defining the rotation axis
k,4,0,0 ! -"-
l,1,2
LN1=_return ! collect number of last created entity (here, the line...)
arotat,LN1,,,,,,3,4,360,12
esize,0.1
amesh, all

[/pre]