Question
How to create plate element?
Answer 1
For plate elements, you can make in the [Node/Element] tab > [Element] group > [Create Element].
Plate elements can be divided into thin plates and thick plates depending on whether shear deformation is considered. In most infrastructures, thick plates that consider both in-plane and out-of-plane behavior are used.
In CIVIL, plate elements cannot consider thickness variation.
While frame elements can input changes in cross-sectional size within the element, plate elements cannot input changes in thickness, so in areas where thickness changes, the element needs to be divided and the gradually changing thickness information must be input.
(In FEA, thickness changes can be considered as a function.)
Answer 2
For plate elements, you can make in the [Structure] tab > [Wizard] group > Base Structures > Plate.
Through the 'Plate Wizard', it is possible to create plate elements with rectangular, circular, or semi-circular shapes, and to input openings and reference points within the plate structure.
Answer 3
For plate elements, you can make in [MODS] tab > [Mesh] group > Auto-mesh / Map-mesh.
Through the 'Auto-mesh' or 'Map-mesh', it is possible to create plate elements with rectangular, circular, or semi-circular shapes, and to input openings and reference points within the plate structure to be created, not just the shape.