thick composite joints analysis on curved surface with Patran..

[winmeister]

Hi everyone.

I want to try analyis of composite 'T' joints using 3d solid elements (using 3d orthotropic properties) in Patran (because there will be internal webs) but on curved surfaces, how can you align the elements so that, like in 2d shell elements analysist, the 3d elements will have 'z' direction normal to the curv surface....

Can you help me please?? Do I have to use cylindrical co-ords or vector, etc?? I am lost!!!

Thanks

 

[airmail]

I ran a curved panel to obtain eigenvalues in Patran, and to stablish boundary condition (simply supported in Z direction, which was "normal direction"), I used cylindrical coordenate system.