orient an shell element

[benjaminL]

Hello,

I work currently on a surf's fin geometry on composite.

I mesh its areas with the element type shell91.

I want to study the orientation of the different layers, so i have oriented my fibers with the way : Preprocessor>RealConstant>...Material/Theta/ thickness

And i have realised after check the element system that all the orientation is different for each mesh. The angle depends of the I,J,K,L corners of my mesh and not of my x,y,z global coordonate system!!!

All my results are false!

Somebody knows how i can simulate my composite?

Any help can be usefull!

Thank you

Benjamin

 

[TERIO]

ESYS command?

 

[benjaminL]

I have tried the ESYS but i don't know how use it.

And i haven't found a good tutoral or explication to explain this command. :s

 

[ansysfreak]

Before you define the shell elements use the esys commando the set the element orientation.

 

[benjaminL]

thanks every body, now i think it's ok.

I go in workplane>coordinate... And i use a cylindrique coordinate. the result is really better!