As of previous versions, flat shells (flat two-dimensional elements with a constant thickness) were implemented in the force analyses of CYPE 3D for concrete, rolled steel, cold-formed steel, aluminium and generic materials. These shells, however, could not be imported in Integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD.
As of the 2018.d version, users can define flat shells in “Integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD” by introducing them in the application itself or by importing CYPE 3D structures that contain shells. The operating mode is the same as that for CYPE 3D. Users must bear in mind that the shells of the “Integrated 3D structures of CYPECAD” are conditioned by their connection to the CYPECAD structure: the shells are only connected to the CYPECAD structure via the connection nodes. Therefore, the degrees of freedom corresponding to the internal points of the edges are not connected to the CYPECAD structure. If the edge of a shell has to be connected to the CYPECAD structure, users must ensure to introduce a sufficient number of connections that will divide the edge and guarantee the correction of the model.
