Select Shape
ShellPlanar from the main menu bar to add a planar shell feature to the part in the current viewport. The planar shell tool is always available, regardless of the modeling space of the part in the current viewport.
You add a planar shell feature by sketching the feature on a selected face. A sketch and the resulting planar shell feature are illustrated in the following figure:
To add a planar shell feature:
From the main menu bar, select ShapeShellPlanar.
ABAQUS/CAE displays prompts in the prompt area to guide you through the procedure.
Tip:
You can also add a planar 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.
If the modeling space of the part is two-dimensional or axisymmetric, ABAQUS/CAE enters the Sketcher and aligns the X- and Y-axes of the part and the sketch.
If the modeling space of the part is three-dimensional, do the following:
Select the planar face on which the shell will be positioned. 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.
Use the Sketcher to sketch the planar shell. In the prompt area, click Done to indicate you have finished sketching.
The part returns to its original orientation with the planar shell positioned on the selected face. The shell feature is created only where it extends beyond the faces of the part; a shell feature cannot overlap a face.
