6.1. Elements for Coupled-Physics Analysis

Coupled-field elements are available for combining various types of physics. A coupled-field element has all necessary degrees of freedom necessary for solving a coupled-field problem. When a coupled-field element is used, the multiple physics are solved simultaneously (in a single analysis with a single mesh and model).

The program handles coupling between the physics by calculating the necessary element matrices or element load vectors.

Coupled-field elements are recommended for strongly coupled physics such as piezoelectric, thermo-electric, and highly nonlinear coupled-field analyses that include material and geometric nonlinearities, temperature-dependent material properties, and multiphysics contact.

The following additional topics are available:

For more information, see the Coupled-Field Analysis Guide.

6.1.1. Coupled-Field Element Classifications

The following types of coupled-field elements are available:

6.1.2. Selecting Elements for Coupled-Physics Analysis

Continuum Elements

General-Purpose Coupled-Field

Degrees of Freedom

Coupled-Physics

PLANE222 -- Lower-order quadrilateral

UX, UY, TEMP

Structural-thermal

PLANE223 -- Higher-order quadrilateral

UX, UY, TEMP, VOLT, AZ, CONC

Structural-thermal
Piezoresistive
Electrostatic-structural
Piezoelectric
Thermal-electric
Structural-thermoelectric
Thermal-piezoelectric
Structural-diffusion
Thermal-diffusion
Electric-diffusion
Thermal-electric-diffusion
Structural-thermal-diffusion
Structural-electric-diffusion
Structural-thermal-electric-diffusion
Thermomagnetic (PLANE223 only)
Thermo-electromagnetic (PLANE223 only)

SOLID226 -- Higher-order hexahedral

UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT, CONC

SOLID227 -- Higher-order tetrahedral

SOLID5 -- Lower-order hexahedral

UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT, MAG

Structural-thermo-electro-magnetic
Thermo-electro-magnetic
Piezoelectric

PLANE13 -- Lower-order quadrilateral

UX, UY, TEMP, VOLT, AZ

Structural-thermo-electro-magnetic
Piezoelectric
Electromagnetic

SOLID98 -- Higher-order tetrahedral

UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT, MAG

Structural-thermo-electro-magnetic
Thermo-electro-magnetic
Piezoelectric

Coupled Pore-Pressure-Thermal Mechanical

Degrees of Freedom

Coupled-Physics

CPT212 --Lower-order quadrilateral

UX, UY, PRES,TEMP

Structural
Pore-fluid-diffusion
Heat-transfer

CPT213 -- Higher-order quadrilateral

CPT215 -- Lower-order hexahedral

UX, UY, UZ, PRES, TEMP

CPT216 -- Higher-order hexahedral

CPT217 -- Higher-order tetrahedral

Thermal-Electric

Degrees of Freedom

Coupled-Physics

LINK68 -- Lower-order line

TEMP, VOLT

Thermal-electric

SHELL157 -- Lower-order shell

Electromagnetic

Degrees of Freedom

Coupled-Physics

PLANE233 -- Higher-order quadrilateral

AZ, VOLT, EMF

Electromagnetic
Stranded coil

SOLID236 -- Edge-based mixed-order hexahedral

SOLID237 -- Edge-based mixed-order tetrahedral

Fluid

Degrees of Freedom

Coupled-Physics

FLUID29 -- Lower-order quadrilateral [1]

UX, UY, PRES

Acoustic fluid-structure interaction

FLUID30 -- Lower-order hexahedral

UX, UY, UZ, PRES

FLUID116 -- Lower-order pipe [2]

PRES, TEMP

Thermal-fluid

FLUID136 -- Low-order and high-order quadrilateral

UX, UY, UZ, PRES

Squeeze film fluid-structure interaction

FLUID220 -- Higher-order hexahedral [1]

UX, UY, UZ, PRES

Acoustic fluid-structure interaction

FLUID221 -- Higher-order tetrahedral [1]

Reduced-Order Elements

TRANS126 -- Electromechanical transducer

UX (UY, UZ), VOLT

Reduced-order electrostatic-structural

ROM144 -- Reduced-order electrostatic-structural

EMF, VOLT, UX

Contact Elements

CONTA171 -- 2-D lower-order surface-to-surface contact

UX, UY, TEMP, VOLT

Structural-thermal
Structural-thermo-electric
Thermal-electric
Structural-electric

CONTA172 -- 2-D higher-order surface-to-surface contact

CONTA173 -- 3-D lower-order surface-to-surface contact

UX, UY, UZ, TEMP, VOLT

CONTA174 -- 3-D higher-order surface-to-surface contact

CONTA175 -- 2-D / 3-D node-to-surface contact

UX, UY, (UZ), TEMP, VOLT

Use the following table to select coupled-field elements:

  1. See Elements for Acoustic Analysis for more information

  2. See Elements for Thermal Analysis for more information

For related information, see Selecting Elements for Your Analysis.


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