# Apply force to area of a shell

**URL:** <https://code-aster.org/forum/t/apply-force-to-area-of-a-shell/12274>\
**Category:** Code\_Aster usage\
**Created:** [May 20, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://code-aster.org/forum/t/apply-force-to-area-of-a-shell/12274 "2026-05-20T15:03:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![trilbytim](https://code-aster.org/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@trilbytim](https://code-aster.org/forum/u/trilbytim)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://code-aster.org/forum/t/apply-force-to-area-of-a-shell/12274/1 "2026-05-20T15:03:41Z")

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I would like to apply a force to an area of a shell. I have a group of elements within the mesh defined for the area, so would like the force uniformly applied across these. Previously I have used FORCE\_ARETE to apply force on a line, but I can’t find the equivalent when the group I want to load is an area. I tried FORCE\_FACE, but this appears to only be for solid 3D meshes, not for shells. I think I could use FORCE\_NODALE, but then I would have to work out the area of each element to calculate the correct force to apply to it?

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**Author:** ![jeanpierreaubry](https://code-aster.org/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/cc9497/32.png) [@jeanpierreaubry](https://code-aster.org/forum/u/jeanpierreaubry)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 3:33pm UTC](https://code-aster.org/forum/t/apply-force-to-area-of-a-shell/12274/2 "2026-05-20T15:33:15Z")

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@trilbytim

try FORCE\_COQUE

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**Author:** ![tpa](https://code-aster.org/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@tpa](https://code-aster.org/forum/u/tpa)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://code-aster.org/forum/t/apply-force-to-area-of-a-shell/12274/3 "2026-05-20T15:41:18Z")

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@trilbytim

PRES\_REP if it is perpendicular.

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**Author:** ![trilbytim](https://code-aster.org/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@trilbytim](https://code-aster.org/forum/u/trilbytim)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://code-aster.org/forum/t/apply-force-to-area-of-a-shell/12274/4 "2026-05-20T16:57:25Z")

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@jeanpierreaubry

Ah ha! Perfect, thank you 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![trilbytim](https://code-aster.org/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@trilbytim](https://code-aster.org/forum/u/trilbytim)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://code-aster.org/forum/t/apply-force-to-area-of-a-shell/12274/5 "2026-05-20T17:01:33Z")

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@tpa Thank you, yes, I had already found that but wanted the option to apply the force at my angle of choosing, Jean Pierre’s answer is correct for my case.