Certain modeling techniques may involve using shells in a manner where they do not contribute to the stiffness of the structural system. An example may be of this is where area objects do not affect stiffness, but instead collect distributed loading and transfer forces to coincident joints on the structure.
...
- Define shell objects with their actual thickness, then assign property modifiers to significantly reduce shell stiffness, perhaps by a factor of 10^10-3^ 3 or 10^10-4^4.
- Use null areas, which are area objects with an a None area section assignment of None, to apply loads using the Uniform to Frame (Shell) load assignment.