Add the Layered Shell–Structure Transition multiphysics node () to create transitions between boundaries modeled using the Layered Shell and domains or boundaries modeled using the Solid Mechanics or Shell interfaces.

The Layered Shell–Structure Transition node is only available with some COMSOL products (see www.comsol.com/products/specifications/)

Select the Layered Shell interface to couple.

Select the Structure — Solid Mechanics or Shell.

Clear the Use all layers checkbox to apply the Layered Shell–Structure Transition coupling on some layers only. Select a Layer from the list (the coupling is then applicable only on the boundaries where this latter material is defined). Under the Selection table clear the checkboxes corresponding to layers where the coupling should not be applied.

There is an automatic search for possible adjacent geometrical objects. If you want to modify the selections, select the Manual control of selections checkbox. Then, select the connected solid boundaries in the Boundary Selection, Solid section and the corresponding shell edges in the Edge Selection section.

The connected area is slightly extended by a distance Δ. Select how to determine this Connection tolerance — Automatic or User defined. For Automatic, the tolerance Δ is set to 0.5% of the shell thickness, which allows for small inaccuracies on, for example, a curved geometry. By selecting User defined, you can modify the value of Δ.

To display this section, click the Show More Options button () and select Advanced Physics Options in the Show More Options dialog.

The Search method shows available mesh search methods for the mapping operator between the source and destination boundaries.

The Closest point method is the default and most robust search method. The Manual method is computationally efficient but its robustness is determined by the Search distance and the Extrapolation tolerance.