3.
2 Pictorial Summary
3.2.1 Pictorial Summary of Element Types
The figures on the next pages graphically summarize the element library for quick
reference.
Structural Point Structural 2–D Line Structural 2–D Beam
Structural Mass Spar Elastic Beam Plastic Beam Offset Tapered
Unsymmetric Beam
MASS21 LINK1 BEAM3 BEAM23 BEAM54
1 node 3–D space 2 nodes 2–D space 2 nodes 2–D space 2 nodes 2–D space 2 nodes 2–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY, ROTZ DOF: UX, UY, ROTZ DOF: UX, UY, ROTZ
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
Structural 3–D Line
Finite Strain Beam Finite Strain Beam Spar Tension–Only Spar Linear Actuator
BEAM188 BEAM189 LINK8 LINK10 LINK11
2 nodes 3–D space 3 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
Structural 3–D Beam Structural Pipe
Elastic Beam Thin–Walled Beam Offset Tapered Elastic Straight Pipe Elastic Pipe Tee
Unsymmetric Beam
BEAM24 BEAM44 PIPE16 PIPE17
BEAM4
2 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space
2 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
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Chapter 3 Element Characteristics
Structural 2–D Solid
Curved Pipe (Elbow) Plastic Straight Pipe Immersed Pipe Plastic Curved Pipe Triangular Solid
PIPE18 PIPE20 PIPE60
PIPE59 PLANE2
2 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space
2 nodes 3–D space 6 nodes 2–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
Axisymmetric
Axisymmetric Structural Solid Structural Solid Harmonic Struct. Structural Solid
Harmonic Struct. Solid Solid p–Element
PLANE25 PLANE42 PLANE82 PLANE83 PLANE145
4 nodes 2–D space 4 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 2–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY
Structural 3–D Solid
Triangular Solid Structural Solid 3–D Layered Anisotropic Solid Reinforced Solid
p–Element Structural Solid
PLANE146 SOLID45 SOLID46 SOLID64 SOLID65
6 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ
Solid with Rotations Solid with Rotations Tetrahedral Solid Structural Solid Structural Solid
p–Element
SOLID72 SOLID73 SOLID92 SOLID95 SOLID147
4 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 10 nodes 3–D space 20 nodes 3–D space 20 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
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Chapter 3 Element Characteristics
Structural 2–D Shell
Tetrahedral Solid 2–D Structural Solid 3–D Structural Solid Plastic Axisymmetric Axisymmetric
p–Element Shell with Torsion Harmonic Struct. Shell
SHELL51 SHELL61
SOLID148 PLANE182 SOLID185
2 nodes 2–D space 2 nodes 2–D space
10 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY, UZ
ROTZ ROTZ
Structural 3–D Shell
Shear/Twist Panel Membrane Shell Plastic Large Strain Elastic Shell Nonlinear Layered
Shell Structural Shell
SHELL28 SHELL41 SHELL43 SHELL63 SHELL91
4 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ or DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
ROTZ
Structural Shell Linear Layered Plastic Shell Structural Shell Finite Strain Shell
Structural Shell p–Element
SHELL93 SHELL99 SHELL143 SHELL150 SHELL181
8 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
Explicit Dynamics
Explicit Spar Explicit Beam Thin Structural Shell Structural Solid Explicit Spring–
Damper
LINK160 BEAM161 SHELL163 SOLID164
COMBI165
3 nodes 3–D space 3 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space
2 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
VX, VY, VZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ VX, VY, VZ
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ,
AX, AY, AZ VX, VY, VZ, AX, AY, AZ VX, VY, VZ, AX, AY, AZ AX, AY, AZ
VX, VY, VZ, AX, AY, AZ
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Chapter 3 Element Characteristics
Hyperelastic Solid
Explicit Structural Explicit Link Hyperelastic Mixed Hyperelastic Mixed Hyperelastic Mixed
Mass U–P Solid U–P Solid U–P Solid
MASS166 LINK167
HYPER56 HYPER58 HYPER74
1 node 3–D space 3 nodes 3–D space
4 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 2–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ
DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ
VX, VY, VZ, VX, VY, VZ,
AX, AY, AZ AX, AY, AZ
Visco Solid
Hyperelastic Solid Hyperelastic Solid Hyperelastic Mixed Viscoelastic Solid Viscoelastic Solid
U–P Solid
HYPER84 HYPER86 HYPER158 VISCO88 VISCO89
8 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 10 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 2–D space 20 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY, UZ
Thermal Point Thermal Line
Large Strain Solid Large Strain Solid Large Strain Solid Thermal Mass
Radiation Link
VISCO106 VISCO107 VISCO108 MASS71 LINK31
4 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 2–D space 1 node 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: TEMP DOF: TEMP
Thermal 2–D Solid
Conduction Bar Conduction Bar Convection Link Triangular Thermal Thermal Solid
Solid
LINK32 LINK33 LINK34 PLANE35 PLANE55
2 nodes 2–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 6 nodes 2–D space 4 nodes 2–D space
DOF: TEMP DOF: TEMP DOF: TEMP DOF: TEMP DOF: TEMP
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Chapter 3 Element Characteristics
Axisymmetric Axisymmetric Thermal 3–D Solid
Harmonic Thermal Harmonic Thermal
Solid Thermal Solid Solid Thermal Solid Tetrahedral
Thermal Solid
PLANE75 PLANE77 PLANE78 SOLID70 SOLID87
4 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 2–D 8 nodes 3–D space 10 nodes 3–D space
DOF: TEMP DOF: TEMP space DOF: TEMP DOF: TEMP
DOF: TEMP
Thermal Shell Fluid
Dynamic Fluid
Thermal Solid Thermal Shell Acoustic Fluid Acoustic Fluid Coupling
SOLID90 SHELL57 FLUID29 FLUID30 FLUID38
20 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space
DOF: TEMP DOF: TEMP DOF: UX, UY, PRES DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ
PRES
Axisymmetric
Thermal–Fluid Pipe Contained Fluid Contained Fluid Harmonic Contained Thermal–Fluid Pipe
Fluid
FLUID66 FLUID79 FLUID80 FLUID81 FLUID116
2 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 2–D space 2 nodes 3–D space
DOF: PRES, TEMP DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: PRES, TEMP
Thermal Electric
Acoustic Fluid Acoustic Fluid FLOTRAN CFD FLOTRAN CFD Thermal–Electric
Fluid–Thermal Fluid–Thermal Solid
FLUID141 FLUID142 PLANE67
FLUID129 FLUID130 4 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 2–D space
2 nodes 2–D space 4 nodes 3–D space DOF: VX, VY, VZ, DOF: VX, VY, VZ, PRES, DOF: TEMP, VOLT
DOF: PRES DOF: PRES PRES, TEMP, ENKE, TEMP, ENKE, ENDS
ENDS
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Magnetic Electric
Thermal–Electric Thermal–Electric Thermal–Electric Current Source Magnetic Solid
Line Solid Shell
LINK68 SOLID69 SHELL157 SOURC36 PLANE53
2 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 3 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 2–D space
DOF: TEMP, VOLT DOF: TEMP, VOLT DOF: TEMP, VOLT DOF: MAG DOF: VOLT, AZ
Magnetic–Scalar Magnetic Solid Magnetic Interface Magnetic Edge Solid Magnetic–High
Solid Frequency Tetrahe-
dral Solid
SOLID96 SOLID97 INTER115 SOLID117 HF119
8 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 20 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space
DOF: MAG DOF: VOLT, AX, AY, DOF: AX, AY, AZ, MAG DOF: AZ DOF: AX
AZ
Magnetic–High Electrostatic Solid Electrostatic Solid Tetrahedral
General Circuit
Frequency Brick Electrostatic Solid
Solid
HF120 PLANE121 SOLID122 SOLID123 CIRCU124
20 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 2–D space 20 nodes 3–D space 10 nodes 3–D space 2–6 nodes 3–D space
DOF: AX DOF: VOLT DOF: VOLT DOF: VOLT DOF: VOLT, CURR,
EMF
Coupled–field Contact
Coupled–field Solid Coupled–field Solid Coupled–field Solid Tetrahedral Point–to–Point
Coupled–field Solid
SOLID5 PLANE13 SOLID62 SOLID98 CONTAC12
8 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 10 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 2–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, TEMP, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY
TEMP, VOLT, MAG VOLT, AZ AX, AY, AZ, VOLT TEMP, VOLT, MAG
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Point–to–Ground Point–to–Surface Point–to–Surface Point–to–Point Contact
CONTAC26 CONTAC48 CONTAC49 CONTAC52 TARGE169
3 nodes 2–D space 3 nodes 2–D space 5 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 3 nodes 2–D space
DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY, TEMP DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY
TEMP
Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact
TARGE170 CONTA171 CONTA172 CONTA173 CONTA174
83 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 2–D space 3 nodes 2–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 8 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY, UZ DOF: UX, UY, UZ
Combination
Revolute Joint Spring–Damper Control Nonlinear Spring Combination
Y
X
COMBIN7 COMBIN14 COMBIN37 COMBIN39 COMBIN40
5 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space 2 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ,
PRES, TEMP PRES, TEMP PRES, TEMP PRES, TEMP
Matrix Infinite
Stiffness, Mass or Superelement Infinite Boundary Infinite Boundary Infinite Boundary
ÍÍÍ
ÍÍ
Damping Matrix
ÍÍÍÍÍ Í
ÍÍÍ
ÍÍ R
ÍÍÍÍÍ Í
ÍÍÍ
ÍÍ
MATRIX27 MATRIX50
ÍÍÍÍÍ
INFIN9
Í
ÍÍÍ
INFIN47 INFIN110
2 nodes 3–D space 2–D or 3–D space 2 nodes 2–D space 4 nodes 3–D space 4 nodes 2–D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: Any DOF: AZ, TEMP DOF: MAG, TEMP DOF: AZ, VOLT, TEMP
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
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Surface
Infinite Boundary Surface Effect Surface Effect Thermal Surface Thermal Surface
R Effect Effect
INFIN111 SURF19 SURF22 SURF151 SURF152
8 nodes 3–D space 3 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space 3 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space
DOF: MAG, AX, AY, AZ, DOF: UX, UY, TEMP DOF: UX, UY, UZ, DOF: TEMP DOF: TEMP
VOLT, TEMP TEMP
Structural Surface Structural Surface
Effect Effect
SURF153 SURF154
3 nodes 2–D space 8 nodes 3–D space
DOF: UX, UY DOF: UX, UY, UZ,
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