2.2. Summary of Element Types

The following tables show elements listed by group label in numerical order, along with a description and graphical representation for each.

BEAM
CIRCU
COMBIN
CONTAC
CPT
FLUID
FOLLW
HSFLD
INFIN
INTER
LINK
MASS
MATRIX
MESH
MPC
PIPE
PLANE
PRETS
REINF
ROM
SHELL
SOLID
SOLSH
SOURC
SURF
TARGE
TRANS
    

BEAM Elements Pictorials
BEAM161
Explicit 3-D Beam
3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ, VX, VY, AX, AY, AZ
BEAM188
Structural 3-D 2-Node Beam
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
BEAM189
Structural 3-D 3-Node Beam
3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
CIRCU Elements Pictorials
CIRCU94
Coupled-Field Piezoelectric Circuit
2 or 3 nodes 2-D space
DOF: VOLT, CURR
CIRCU124
Electric Circuit
2-6 nodes 3-D space
DOF: VOLT, CURR, EMF
CIRCU125
Electric Diode
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: VOLT
COMBIN Elements Pictorials
COMBIN14
Combination Spring-Damper
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
COMBIN37
Combination Control
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ, PRES, TEMP
COMBIN39
Combination Nonlinear Spring
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ, PRES, TEMP
COMBIN40
Combination
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ, PRES, TEMP
COMBI165
Explicit Dynamics Spring-Damper
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ, VX, VY, VZ, AX, AV, AZ
COMBI214
Combination Spring-Damper Bearing
2 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
CONTAC Elements Pictorials
CONTA171
2-D 2-Node Surface-to-Surface Contact
2 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, TEMP, VOLT, AZ, PRES, CONC
CONTA172
2-D 3-Node Surface-to-Surface Contact
3 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, TEMP, VOLT, AZ, PRES, CONC
CONTA173
3-D 4-Node Surface-to-Surface Contact
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, TTOP, TBOT, VOLT, MAG, PRES, CONC
CONTA174
3-D 8-Node Surface-to-Surface Contact
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, TTOP, TBOT, VOLT, MAG, PRES, CONC
CONTA175
2-D/3-D Node-to-Surface Contact
1 node 2-D/3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT, AX, MAG, PRES, CONC
CONTA176
3-D Line-to-Line Contact
3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
CONTA177
3-D Line-to-Surface Contact
3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
CONTA178
3-D Node-to-Node Contact
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT
CPT Elements Pictorials
CPT212
2-D 4-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, PRES, TEMP
CPT213
2-D 8-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, PRES, TEMP
CPT215
3-D 8-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, PRES, TEMP
CPT216
3-D 20-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid
20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, PRES, TEMP
CPT217
3-D 10-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, PRES, TEMP
FLUID Elements Pictorials
FLUID29
2-D Acoustic Fluid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, PRES
FLUID30
3-D Acoustic Fluid
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, PRES
FLUID38
Dynamic Fluid Coupling
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
FLUID116
Coupled Thermal-Fluid Pipe
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: PRES, TEMP
FLUID129
2-D Infinite Acoustic
2 nodes 2-D space
DOF: PRES
FLUID130
3-D Infinite Acoustic
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: PRES
FLUID136
3-D Squeeze Film Fluid
4, 8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: PRES
FLUID138
3-D Viscous Fluid Link
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: PRES
FLUID139
3-D Slide Film Fluid
2, 32 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
FLUID218
3-D Hydrodynamic Bearing Element
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, PRES
FLUID220
3-D Acoustic Fluid
20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, PRES
FLUID221
3-D Acoustic Fluid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, PRES
FOLLW Elements Pictorials
FOLLW201
3-D Follower Load
1 node 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
HSFLD Elements Pictorials
HSFLD241
2-D Hydrostatic Fluid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, HDSP, PRES
HSFLD242
3-D Hydrostatic Fluid
9 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, HDSP, PRES
INFIN Elements Pictorials
INFIN47
3-D Infinite Boundary
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: MAG, TEMP
INFIN110
2-D Infinite Solid
4 or 8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: AZ, VOLT, TEMP
INFIN111
3-D Infinite Solid
8 or 20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: MAG, AZ, VOLT, TEMP
INFIN257
2-D or 3-D Structural Infinite Solid
4 or 8 nodes 2-D space
8 or 20 nodes 3-D space
DOF (2-D): UX, UY
DOF (3-D): UX, UY, UZ
(2-D) or
(3-D)
INTER Elements Pictorials
INTER192
Structural 2-D Interface 4-Node Gasket
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY
INTER193
Structural 2-D Interface 6-Node Gasket
6 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY
INTER194
Structural 3-D Interface 16-Node Gasket
16 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
INTER195
Structural 3-D Interface 8-Node Gasket
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
INTER202
Structural 2-D Interface 4-Node Cohesive
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY
INTER203
Structural 2-D Interface 6-Node Cohesive
6 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY
INTER204
Structural 3-D Interface 16-Node Cohesive
16 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
INTER205
Structural 3-D Interface 8-Node Cohesive
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
LINK Elements Pictorials
LINK11
Structural 3-D Linear Actuator
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
LINK31
Radiation Link
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
LINK33
Thermal 3-D Conduction Bar
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
LINK34
Convection Link
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
LINK68
Coupled Thermal-Electric Line
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP, VOLT
LINK160
Explicit 3-D Spar (or Truss)
3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, VX, VY, VZ, AX, AY, AZ
LINK167
Explicit Tension-Only Spar
3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, VX, VY, VZ, AX, AY, AZ
LINK180
Structural 3-D Spar (or Truss)
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
MASS Elements Pictorials
MASS21
Structural Mass
1 node 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
MASS71
Thermal Mass
1 node 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
MASS166
Explicit 3-D Structural Mass
1 node 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, VX, VY, VZ, AX, AY, AZ
MATRIX Elements Pictorials
MATRIX27
Stiffness, Damping, or Mass Matrix
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
MATRIX50
Superelement (or Substructure)
2-D or 3-D space
DOF: Determined from included element types
MESH Elements Pictorials
MESH200
Meshing Facet
2-20 nodes 2-D/3-D space
DOF: None
KEYOPT Dependent
MPC Elements Pictorials
MPC184
Structural Multipoint Constraint
2 or 3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
KEYOPT Dependent
PIPE Elements Pictorials
PIPE288
3-D 2-Node Pipe
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
PIPE289
3-D 3-Node Pipe
3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
ELBOW290
3-D 3-Node Elbow
3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
PLANE Elements Pictorials
PLANE13
2-D Coupled-Field Solid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: TEMP, AZ, UX, UY, VOLT
PLANE25
Axisymmetric-Harmonic 4-Node Structural Solid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
PLANE35
2-D 6-Node Triangular Thermal Solid
6 nodes 2-D space
DOF: TEMP
PLANE55
2-D 4-Node Thermal Solid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: TEMP
PLANE75
2-D Axisymmetric-Harmonic 4-Node Thermal Solid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: TEMP
PLANE77
2-D 8-Node Thermal Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: TEMP
PLANE78
2-D Axisymmetric-Harmonic 8-Node Thermal Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: TEMP
PLANE83
2-D Axisymmetric - Harmonic 8-Node Structural Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
PLANE121
2-D 8-Node Electrostatic Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: VOLT
PLANE162
Explicit 2-D Structural Solid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, VX, VY, AX, AY
PLANE182
2-D 4-Node Structural Solid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY
PLANE183
2-D 8-Node Structural Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY
PLANE222
2-D 4-Node Coupled-Field Solid
4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, TEMP
PLANE223
2-D 8-Node Coupled-Field Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, TEMP, VOLT, AZ, CONC
PLANE230
2-D 8-Node Electric Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: VOLT
PLANE233
2-D 8-Node Electromagnetic Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: AZ, VOLT
PLANE238
2-D 8-Node Diffusion Solid
8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: CONC
PRETS Elements Pictorials
PRETS179
2-D/3-D Pretension Combination
3 nodes 2-D/3-D space
DOF: UX
REINF Elements Pictorials
REINF263
2-D Smeared Reinforcing
Up to 8 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTZ
REINF264
3-D Discrete Reinforcing
Up to 20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
REINF265
3-D Smeared Reinforcing
Up to 20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
ROM Elements Pictorials
ROM144
Reduced-Order Electrostatic-Structural Coupled-Field
20 or 30 nodes 3-D space
DOF: EMF, VOLT, UX
SHELL Elements Pictorials
SHELL61
2-D Axisymmetric-Harmonic Structural Shell
2 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTZ
SHELL131
4-Node Thermal Shell
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TBOT, TE2, TE3, TE4, . . . TTOP
SHELL132
8-Node Thermal Shell
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TBOT, TE2, TE3, TE4, . . . TTOP
SHELL157
Thermal-Electric Shell
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP, VOLT
SHELL163
Explicit Thin Structural Shell
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, VX, VY, VZ, AX, AY, AZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ,
SHELL181
4-Node Structural Shell
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
SHELL208
2-Node Axisymmetric Shell
2 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, ROTZ
SHELL209
3-Node Axisymmetric Shell
3 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, ROTZ
SHELL281
8-Node Structural Shell
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
SOLID Elements Pictorials
SOLID5
3-D Coupled-Field Solid
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT, MAG
SOLID65
3-D Reinforced Concrete Structural Solid
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SOLID70
3-D Thermal Solid
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
SOLID87
3-D 10-Node Tetrahedral Thermal Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
SOLID90
3-D 20-Node Thermal Solid
20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
SOLID96
3-D Magnetic Scalar Solid
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: MAG
SOLID98
Tetrahedral Coupled-Field Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT, MAG
SOLID122
3-D 20-Node Electrostatic Solid
20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: VOLT
SOLID123
3-D 10-Node Tetrahedral Electrostatic Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: VOLT
SOLID164
Explicit 3-D Structural Solid
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, VX, VY, VZ, AX, AY, AZ
SOLID168
Explicit 3-D 10-Node Tetrahedral Structural Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, VX, VY, VZ, AX, AY, AZ
SOLID185
3-D 8-Node Structural Solid
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SOLID186
3-D 20-Node Structural Solid
20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SOLID187
3-D 10-Node Tetrahedral Structural Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SOLID226
3-D 20-Node Coupled-Field Solid
20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT, CONC
SOLID227
3-D 10-Node Coupled-Field Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT, CONC
SOLID231
3-D 20-Node Electric Solid
20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: VOLT
SOLID232
3-D 10-Node Tetrahedral Electric Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: VOLT
SOLID236
3-D 20-Node Electromagnetic Solid
20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: AZ, VOLT
SOLID237
3-D 10-Node Electromagnetic Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: AZ, VOLT
SOLID239
3-D 20-Node Diffusion Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: CONC
SOLID240
3-D 10-Node Tetrahedral Diffusion Solid
10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: CONC
SOLID272
4- to 48-Node General Axisymmetric Solid
(KEYOPT(2) = 3)
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SOLID273
8- to 96-Node General Axisymmetric Solid
(KEYOPT(2) = 3)
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SOLID278
3-D 8-Node Thermal Solid
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
SOLID279
3-D 20-Node Thermal Solid
20 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
SOLID285
3-D 4-Node Tetrahedral Structural Solid with Nodal Pressure
4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, HDSP
 
SOLSH Elements Pictorials
SOLSH190
Structural Solid Shell
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SOURC Elements Pictorials
SOURC36
Magnetic Electric Current Source
3 nodes 3-D space
DOF: None
SURF Elements Pictorials
SURF151
2-D Thermal Surface Effect
2 or 4 nodes 2-D space
DOF: TEMP
SURF152
3-D Thermal Surface Effect
4 to 10 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
SURF153
2-D Structural Surface Effect
2 or 3 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY
SURF154
3-D Structural Surface Effect
4 to 8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SURF155
3-D Thermal Surface Effect
2 to 4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: TEMP
SURF156
3-D Structural Surface Line Load
3 to 4 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SURF159
3-D General Axisymmetric Surface
2 to 36 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ
SURF251
2-D Radiosity Surface
2 nodes 2-D space
SURF252
3-D Thermal Radiosity Surface
3 or 4 nodes, 3-D space
TARGE Elements Pictorials
TARGE169
Contact 2-D Target Segment
3 nodes 2-D space
DOF: UX, UY, TEMP, VOLT, AZ, PRES, CONC
TARGE170
Contact 3-D Target Segment
8 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, TTOP, TBOT, VOLT, MAG, PRES, CONC
TRANS Elements Pictorials
TRANS126
Electromechanical Transducer
2 nodes 3-D space
DOF: UX-VOLT, UY-VOLT, UZ-VOLT

Release 18.2 - © ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.