To add a swept shell feature:

From the main menu bar, select ShapeShellSweep.

ABAQUS/CAE displays prompts in the prompt area to guide you through the procedure.

Tip:  You can also add a swept shell feature using the tool, located with the shell tools in the Part module toolbox. For a diagram of the tools in the Part module toolbox, see “Using the Part module toolbox,” Section 11.17.

Select the planar face on which to sketch the sweep path. If no suitable face exists, you can select a datum plane.

Tip:  If you are unable to select the desired planar face, you can change the selection behavior by clicking the selection options tool in the prompt area. For more information, see “Using the selection options,” Section 6.3.

Select an edge and the orientation of the edge on the Sketcher grid. The edge must not be perpendicular to the selected face. By default, the selected edge will appear vertical and on the right side of the Sketcher grid. To choose a different orientation for the edge, click the arrow on the right side of the dialog box and choose an orientation from the list that appears.

Tip:  If the edge of the selected face is curved or does not provide the desired orientation, you can create a datum axis. You can then select the datum axis to control the orientation of the part on the Sketcher grid.

ABAQUS/CAE highlights the selected edge, enters the Sketcher, and rotates the part until the selected face aligns with the plane of the Sketcher grid and the selected edge aligns with the grid in the desired orientation.

If you are unsure of the part's orientation relative to the Sketcher grid, use the view manipulation tools from the toolbar to view its position. Use the reset view tool to return to the original view.

Sketch the sweep path. The sweep path must meet the following guidelines:

The path can be closed, but the ends must meet smoothly; for example, the ends should not meet at a corner. For examples of valid sweep paths, see “Defining the sweep path and the sweep profile,” Section 11.13.8.

The path must be continuous; for example, it must not branch.

The resulting shell cannot intersect with itself.

In the prompt area, click Done to indicate you have finished sketching the sweep path.

ABAQUS/CAE exits the Sketcher and restores the original view of the part. A highlighted line indicates the sweep path and its direction. You are now ready to sketch the sweep profile.

Select an edge and the orientation of the edge on the Sketcher grid. The selected edge must not be parallel to the sweep path direction. By default, the selected edge will appear vertical and on the right side of the Sketcher grid. To choose a different orientation for the edge, click the arrow on the right side of the dialog box and choose an orientation from the list that appears.

ABAQUS/CAE highlights the selected edge, enters the Sketcher again, and rotates the part so that the Sketcher grid lies on a plane normal to the beginning of the sweep path with the sweep path direction pointing out of the screen. In addition, the selected edge aligns with the grid in the desired orientation. The intersection of two dashed lines indicates the origin of the sweep path.

Sketch the sweep profile. The sweep profile must meet the following guidelines:

The profile must be closed.

The resulting shell cannot intersect with itself.

You can sketch the profile anywhere on the Sketch grid; ABAQUS/CAE sweeps the profile along a path parallel to the sweep path. In the prompt area, click Done to indicate you have finished sketching the sweep profile.

ABAQUS/CAE exits the Sketcher, restores the original view of the part, and creates the new swept shell. The resulting shell cannot intersect with itself.