# How to define local element coordinate for each shell element

**URL:** <https://calculix.discourse.group/t/how-to-define-local-element-coordinate-for-each-shell-element/364>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [December 19, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/how-to-define-local-element-coordinate-for-each-shell-element/364 "2020-12-19T18:19:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![harishameed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d6d6ee/32.png) [@harishameed](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/harishameed)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/how-to-define-local-element-coordinate-for-each-shell-element/364/1 "2020-12-19T18:19:47Z")

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Hello  
I want to simulate a composite panel with variable stiffness. how can i define a local orientation angle of each element in shell plate , like this one

 ![ansys](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/calculix/original/1X/a2cdc464554e49f10fc6e0cdef8277b854f71ed8.jpeg)

need some guidance on it

Regards

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**Author:** ![jbr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecccb3/32.png) [@jbr](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/jbr)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/how-to-define-local-element-coordinate-for-each-shell-element/364/2 "2020-12-19T21:00:08Z")

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Hi @harishameed, it looks like they are different along the “x” direction (or to the right)… If so, you could create element sets for elements at a given x-coordinate and apply an orientation on the shell section keyword:  
`*SHELL SECTION, MATERIAL=Steel, ELSET=Shell_Set_1, ORIENTATION=T0`  
and make sure you have an orientation card as such:  
`*ORIENTATION, NAME=T0, SYSTEM=RECTANGULAR `  
`0.,0.,0.,1.,0.,0.`

Good luck!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![harishameed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d6d6ee/32.png) [@harishameed](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/harishameed)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/how-to-define-local-element-coordinate-for-each-shell-element/364/3 "2020-12-20T18:29:52Z")

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got it. thank you. will try to implement it.

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**Author:** ![harishameed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d6d6ee/32.png) [@harishameed](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/harishameed)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/how-to-define-local-element-coordinate-for-each-shell-element/364/4 "2020-12-21T19:33:03Z")

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i have made a shell plate with varying orientations.  
i need some guidance on performing optimization with calculix. can you suggest me which optimizer suits this case. based on deformation I want to optimize the fiber angle. need some suggestion to work on. thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![jbr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecccb3/32.png) [@jbr](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/jbr)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/how-to-define-local-element-coordinate-for-each-shell-element/364/5 "2020-12-21T23:30:32Z")

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I haven’t used it but I saw this one- maybe give it a try:

> **[Matej Borovinšek | OptiMax](http://lace.fs.uni-mb.si/wordpress/borovinsek/?page_id=104)**

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**Author:** ![harishameed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d6d6ee/32.png) [@harishameed](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/harishameed)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 10:05am UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/how-to-define-local-element-coordinate-for-each-shell-element/364/6 "2020-12-22T10:05:59Z")

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Thank you for your prompt reply. I will look into it.  
Regards