sectype

Mapdl.sectype(secid='', type_='', subtype='', name='', refinekey='', **kwargs)

Associates section type information with a section ID number.

APDL Command: SECTYPE

Parameters:

secid

Section identification number.

type_

BEAM

BEAM - Defines a beam section.

TAPER - Defines a tapered beam or pipe section. The sections at the end points must be

topologically identical.

GENB - Defines a nonlinear general (temperature-dependent) beam section.

COMB - Defines a composite (temperature-dependent) beam section.

PIPE - Defines a pipe section.

LINK - Defines a link section.

AXIS - Define the axis for a general axisymmetric section.

SHELL - Defines a shell section.

GENS - Defines a preintegrated general (temperature-dependent) shell section.

PRETENSION - Defines a pretension section.

JOINT - Defines a joint section.

REINF - Defines a reinforcing section.

CONTACT - Defines a contact section.

subtype

When Type = BEAM, the possible beam sections that can be defined for Subtype are:

name

An eight-character name for the section. Name can be a string such as “W36X210” or “HP13X73” for beam sections. Section name can consist of letters and numbers, but cannot contain punctuation, special characters, or spaces.

refinekey

Sets mesh refinement level for thin-walled beam sections. Valid values are 0 (the default - no mesh refinement) through 5 (high level of mesh refinement). This value has meaning only when Type = BEAM.

Notes

SECTYPE sets the section ID number, section type, and subtype for a section. If the section ID number is not specified, ANSYS increments the highest section ID number currently defined in the database by one. A previously-defined section with the same identification number will be redefined. The geometry data describing this section type is defined by a subsequent SECDATA command. Define the offsets by a subsequent SECOFFSET command. The SLIST command lists the section properties, and the SECPLOT command displays the section to scale. The SECNUM command assigns the section ID number to a subsequently-defined beam element.

For a beam section (Type = BEAM), a subsequent SECDATA command builds a numeric model using a nine-node cell for determining the properties (Ixx, Iyy, etc.) of the section and for the solution to the Poisson’s equation for torsional behavior. See Beam Analysis and Cross Sections in the Structural Analysis Guide for examples using the section commands.

For a nonlinear general beam section (Type = GENB), the Subtype and REFINEKEY options do not apply. Subsequent commands are necessary to define the section: BSAX, BSM1, BSM2, BSTQ, BSS1, BSS2, BSMD, and BSTE are available. All other section commands are ignored for this section type.

For a preintegrated composite-beam section (Type = COMB), the REFINEKEY options do not apply. Subsequent commands are necessary to define the section: CBTMP, CBMX, CBMD, and CBTE are available. All other section commands are ignored for this section type.

For a tapered beam or pipe section (Type = TAPER), two subsequent SECDATA commands are required (one for each end section). Section ends must be topologically identical (same Subtype, number of cells and material IDs). For a tapered pipe section, end sections must have the same number of cells around the circumference and along the pipe wall, and the same shell section ID for a composite pipe wall.