Comparison between Mechanical APDL beam / shell and WB Solid Analyses TRESCA ENGENHARIA, CONSULTORIA E ANÁLISE DE TENSÕES http://www.tresca.com.br André Ricardo Beim Renato Bezerra Leão COMPANY OVERVIEW  TRESCA ENGENHARIA is a company established in 1994. With different specialties, provides services for several national and international companies. The main activity area includes:  finite element stress analysis, thermal analysis, vibration analysis, fracture mechanics analysis, consulting in design standards: ASME, API, AISC and BS, consulting in pressure vessels, mechanical equipments and pipes, design and calculation of floating roof of oil tanks.  Founder André Beim works with finite element stress analysis since 1976 and is one of the first ANSYS users in Brazil; BEAM/SHELL x WB SOLID ANALYSES This study shows the comparison between two different approaches – shell and line modeling versus solid modeling (CAD) The operating conditions were considered. In these conditions, the following comparison parameters are defined: equivalent stress, buckling factors and displacements TRADITIONAL APPROACH DWG CAD 3D APPROACH The whole equipment is represented by solid elements SOLID187 The FE geometry is identical to the CAD model CAD 3D APPROACH DIFFERENCES BETWEEN APPROACHES ADVANTAG ES Red u cti o n o n th e ti me fo r resu l ts Mo re d etai l s  g reater o p ti mi zati o n p o ssi b i l i ti es RESULTS - STRESS The results (qualitative and quantitative) of the stress analysis were satisfactory. The global equipment behavior is similar. RESULTS - STRESS RESULTS - DEFORMATION