Defining a Panel type structural unit

With this definition, the various cross-sectional parts of a panel defined by individual boundary lines, which together form a physical cross-section, can be defined as belonging together. This is necessary in order to be able to correctly take into account the actual cross-section of the panel in the structural analysis for crack detection.

In detail, this involves composite cross-sections in which the panel is supported on various individual beams. When modeling (as a girder grid), the panel is subdivided according to the individual beams and a corresponding composite definition is made for each part. During the calculation, a separate FE mesh is generated for each cross-sectional part of the panel, which means that geometric information of the contact surfaces (or lines) of neighboring cross-sectional parts is lost. The additional definition of the structural unit of the "panel" type creates a separate, common FE mesh for all correspondingly combined cross-sectional parts of the panel, so that the contact surfaces of the panel parts can be detected and correctly taken into account.

In practical terms, this means that the composite definition can be carried out as usual (see Defining a structural unit of type composite) and the structural units of the cross-sectional parts (edge lines) of the slab can also be summarized using this definition.

To define a Panel type structural unit

1. Click Panel structural unit.
2. Click on all structural units of the Bar type (up to 8 units possible) that are to become part of the panel cross-section.

   Note: Click on a structural unit again to deselect it.

3. Select the Enter key to finish the definition.

   Note: The position of the structural unit is irrelevant and is automatically determined by the program.

4. Define further structural units of the Panel type directly (back to 2.) or exit the function with ESC.