Input a Shell Mesh in SAP

[aa81]

Hi!

I have a fairly complex shell geometry that I cannot draw directly in SAP2000.
And I want to run the analysis with a very regular mesh (quadrangular elements).

- Does any of you know of a good mesher that would be compatible with SAP2000 for shell elements?

- Is it possible to use an AutoCAD model and import in SAP2000 or then have SAP perform the meshing?

- Do you know if AutoCAD has meshing capabilities that would allow me to create the mesh in AutoCAD then import it in SAP2000?

Thank you very much for your input

 

[IJR]

Yes,

Sap2000 import menu has a DXF import option. So autocad or whatever software that does DXF, will be fine.

I use autocad DXF.

Autocad can mesh surfaces. That will cost you some learning of meshing commands and a little bit more of practicing. Browse the help for meshing options.

If you know how to generate coordinates by some formulations using excel, then that can be very handy, since you can always import an excel file into SAP2000

As to what can be imported into SAP2000, simply look at the file menu under the import submenu. Any mesh generator that can churn out stuff in those listed formats will be OK.

 

[aa81]

Thank you!
That's very helpful. I'll try AutoCAD.

 

[aa81]

One more question:

I have played a bit with the meshing capabilities in AutoCAD, but it looks like the only elements that can be imported in SAP2000 are those created with the 3DFace command.

Am I right? Could I import in SAP2000 a more complex mesh created from curved boundaries or smoothed in AutoCAD? If yes, how do I make them recognizable by SAP?

Thank you for your help

 

[IJR]

Yes you can

use surf commands, eg the tabsurf or the revsurf or edgesurf. Then explode the surface you get. Then import the exploded dxf. YOu will then see that the shells are already there in Sap2000

respects
ijr