2.3. Selecting Elements for Your Analysis

Use this list of elements sorted by application to select the best elements for your analysis. Primary applications are as follows:

Structural
Explicit Dynamics
Thermal
Acoustic
Diffusion
Fluid
Magnetic Electric
Electric Circuit
Coupled-Field
Contact
Combination
Matrix
Infinite
Load
Meshing
Reinforcing
User-Defined

Within each element category, the elements appear in order of shape function (topology). Current-technology elements take precedence.

Structural

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
Structural Solid3-D SOLID185 8-Node Structural Solid
SOLID186 20-Node Structural Solid
SOLID187 10-Node Tetrahedral Structural Solid
SOLID285 4-Node Tetrahedral Structural Solid with Nodal Pressures  
SOLID65 8-Node Reinforced Concrete Structural Solid
2-D PLANE182 4-Node Structural Solid
PLANE183 8-Node Structural Solid
PLANE25 4-Node Axisymmetric-Harmonic Structural Solid
PLANE83 8-Node Axisymmetric-Harmonic Structural Solid
General Axisymmetric SOLID272 4- to 48-Node General Axisymmetric Solid
SOLID273 8- to 96-Node General Axisymmetric Solid
Structural Solid Shell3-D SOLSH190 8-Node Structural Solid Shell
Structural Shell3-D SHELL181 4-Node Structural Shell
SHELL281 8-Node Structural Shell
2-D SHELL208 2-Node Axisymmetric Shell
SHELL209 3-Node Axisymmetric Shell
SHELL61 2-Node Axisymmetric-Harmonic Structural Shell
Structural Layered Composite3-D SOLID185 8-Node Layered Solid
SOLID186 20-Node Layered Structural Solid
SOLSH190 8-Node Solid Shell
The following elements can also be used for layered applications: SHELL181, SHELL208, SHELL209, SHELL281, ELBOW290
Structural Beam3-D BEAM188 2-Node Structural Beam
BEAM189 3-Node Structural Beam
Structural Pipe3-D PIPE288 2-Node Pipe
PIPE289 3-Node Pipe
ELBOW290 3-Node Elbow
Structural Line 3-D LINK180 2-Node Structural 3-D Spar (or Truss)
LINK11 2-Node Structural Linear Actuator
Structural Point3-D MASS21 1-Node Structural Mass
Structural Interface3-D INTER194 Interface 16-Node Gasket
INTER195 Interface 8-Node Gasket
INTER204 Interface 16-Node Cohesive
INTER205 Interface 8-Node Cohesive
2-D INTER192 Interface 4-Node Gasket
INTER193 Interface 6-Node Gasket
INTER202 Interface 4-Node Cohesive
INTER203 Interface 6-Node Cohesive
Structural Multipoint Constraint3-D MPC184
MPC184-Link/Beam
MPC184-Slider
MPC184-Revolute
MPC184-Universal
MPC184-Slot
MPC184-Point
MPC184Translational
MPC184Cylindrical
MPC184-Planar
MPC184-Weld
MPC184-Orient
MPC184-Spherical
MPC184-General
MPC184-Screw

Explicit Dynamics (Explicit dynamics analyses can use only explicit dynamic elements.)

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
Explicit Solid3-D SOLID164 8-Node Explicit Structural Solid
SOLID168 10-Node Explicit Tetrahedral Structural Solid
2-D PLANE162 4-Node Explicit Solid
Explicit Shell3-D SHELL163 4-Node Explicit Thin Structural Shell
Explicit Beam3-D BEAM161 3-Node Explicit Beam
Explicit Line3-D LINK160 3-Node Explicit Spar (or Truss)
LINK167 3-Node Explicit Tension-Only Spar
COMBI165 2-Node Explicit Spring-Damper
Explicit Point3-D MASS166 1-Node Explicit Structural Mass

Thermal

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
Thermal Solid3-D SOLID278 8-Node Thermal Solid
SOLID279 20-Node Thermal Solid
SOLID70 8-Node Thermal Solid
SOLID87 10-Node Tetrahedral Thermal Solid
SOLID90 20-Node Thermal Solid
2-D PLANE35 6-Node Triangular Thermal Solid
PLANE55 4-Node Thermal Solid
PLANE75 4-Node Axisymmetric-Harmonic Thermal Solid
PLANE77 8-Node Thermal Solid
PLANE78 4-Node Axisymmetric-Harmonic Thermal Solid
Thermal Layered Solid3-D SOLID278 8-Node Thermal Solid
SOLID279 20-Node Thermal Solid
Thermal Shell3-D SHELL131 4-Node Thermal Shell
SHELL132 8-Node Thermal Shell
Thermal Line3-D LINK31 2-Node Radiation Link
LINK33 2-Node Thermal Conduction Bar
LINK34 2-Node Convection Link
Thermal Point3-D MASS71 1-Node Thermal Mass
Thermal Electric3-D LINK68 2-Node Coupled Thermal-Electric Line
SHELL157 4-Node Thermal-Electric Shell

Acoustic

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
Acoustic Volume3-D FLUID30 8-Node Acoustic Fluid
FLUID220 20-Node Acoustic Fluid
FLUID221 10-Node Acoustic Fluid
2-D FLUID29 4-Node Acoustic Fluid
Acoustic Planar3-D FLUID130 4-Node Infinite Acoustic
Acoustic Line2-D FLUID129 2-Node Infinite Acoustic

Diffusion

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
Diffusion Solid2-D PLANE238 8-Node Diffusion Solid
3-D SOLID239 20-Node Diffusion Solid
SOLID240

10-Node Tetrahedral Diffusion Solid

Fluid

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
Fluid Volume3-D HSFLD242 9-Node Hydrostatic Fluid
2-D HSFLD241 4-Node Hydrostatic Fluid
Fluid - Gap3-D FLUID38 2-Node Dynamic Fluid Coupling
FLUID136 4- or 8-Node Squeeze Film Fluid
FLUID138 2-Node Viscous Fluid Link
FLUID139 2- or 32-Node Slide Film Fluid
Fluid Pipe3-D FLUID116 2-Node Coupled Thermal-Fluid Pipe

Magnetic Electric

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
---3-D SOLID96 8-Node Magnetic Scalar Solid
SOLID122 20-Node Electrostatic Solid
SOLID123 10-Node Tetrahedral Electrostatic Solid
SOLID231 20-Node Electric Solid
SOLID232 10-Node Tetrahedral Electric Solid
SOLID236 20-Node Electromagnetic Solid
SOLID237 10-Node Electromagnetic Solid
2-D PLANE121 8-Node Electrostatic Solid
PLANE230 8-Node Electric Solid
PLANE233 8-Node Electromagnetic Solid

Electric Circuit

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
---3-D SOURC36 3-Node Magnetic Electric Current Source
CIRCU124 2- to 6-Node Electric Circuit
CIRCU125 2-Node Magnetic Electric Diode
2-D CIRCU94 2- or 3-Node Coupled-Field Piezoelectric Circuit

Coupled-Field

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
---3-D SOLID226 20-Node Coupled-Field Solid
SOLID227 10-Node Coupled-Field Solid
SOLID5 8-Node Coupled-Field Solid
LINK68 2-Node-Coupled Thermal-Electric Line
SOLID98 10-Node Tetrahedral Coupled-Field Solid
ROM144 20- or 30-Node Reduced-Order Electrostatic-Structural Coupled-Field
SHELL157 4-Node Thermal-Electric Shell
TRANS126 2-Node Electromechanical Transducer
CPT215 8-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid
CPT216 20-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid
CPT217 10-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid
2-D PLANE222 4-Node Coupled-Field Solid
PLANE223 8-Node Coupled-Field Solid
PLANE13 4-Node Coupled-Field Solid
CPT212 4-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid
CPT213 8-Node Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical Solid

Contact

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
--- 3-D TARGE170 8-Node Contact 3-D Target Segment
CONTA173 4-Node Surface-to-Surface Contact
CONTA174 8-Node Surface-to-Surface Contact
CONTA176 3-Node Line-to-Line Contact
CONTA177 3-Node Line-to-Surface Contact
CONTA178 2-Node Node-to-Node Contact
2-D/3-D CONTA175 1-Node Node-to-Surface Contact
2-D TARGE169 3-Node Contact 2-D Target Segment
CONTA171 2-Node Surface-to-Surface Contact
CONTA172 3-Node Surface-to-Surface Contact

Combination

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
---3-D COMBIN14 2-Node Combination Spring-Damper
COMBIN37 4-Node Combination Control
COMBIN39 2-Node Combination Nonlinear Spring
COMBIN40 2-Node Combination
2-D/3-D PRETS179 3-Node Pretension Combination
2-D COMBI214 2-Node Combination Spring-Damper Bearing

Matrix

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
---3-D MATRIX27 2-Node Stiffness, Damping, or Mass Matrix
2-D/3-D MATRIX50 Superelement (or Substructure)

Infinite

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
---3-D INFIN47 4-Node Infinite Boundary
INFIN111 8- or 20-Node Infinite Solid
2-D INFIN110 4- or 8-Node Infinite Solid
2-D / 3-D INFIN257 4- or 8-node (2-D) or 8- or 20-node (3-D) Structural Infinite Solid
(2-D) or
(3-D)

Load

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
---3-D SURF152 4- to 10-Node Thermal Surface Effect
SURF154 4- to 8-Node Structural Surface Effect
SURF155 2- to 4-Node Thermal Surface Effect
SURF156 3- or 4-Node Structural Surface Line Load
SURF159 2- to 36-Node General Axisymmetric Surface
FOLLW201 1-Node Follower Load
SURF252 3- or 4-Node Thermal Radiosity Surface
2-D SURF151 2- or 4-Node Thermal Surface Effect
SURF153 2- or 3-Node Structural Surface Effect
SURF251 2-Node Radiosity Surface

Meshing

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
---2-D/3-D MESH200 2- to 20-Node Meshing Facet

Reinforcing

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
---3-D REINF264 2- to 20-Node Discrete Reinforcing
REINF265 2- to 20-Node Smeared Reinforcing
2-D REINF263 2- to 8-Node Smeared Reinforcing

User-Defined

Type Dimension Element Pictorial
--- --- USER300 ---

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