2d elements for membrane

[sosat1012]

I need to get the displacement of a membrane when uniform load is applied on it. the membrane is a very thin rectangular but the analysis is 2D. which element sould I use to get max displacement of the membrane in 2D analysis (linear)? SHELL208?

 

[pja]

why 2D? is the loading nonuniform in both directions?

 

[sosat1012]

Actually I am doing a 2D coupled analysis, normal wind interacts with the membrane and diplaces it. I am using LDREAD to transfer wind loads on the membrane. I am trying to find the proper element for the structural analysis (membrane displacement) because I searched many elements and could not find one with rotz as a DOF. I didn't use any line elements though, only area elements.
I could do it not coupled (two separated analyses) but i don't know if i could transfer loads from the FLOTRAN 2D analysis to a 3D structural analysis for the membrane displacement using SHELL elements... Any ideas?