Simcenter Samcef elements

The following tables list the structural Simcenter Samcef elements that are supported in Pre/Post. They also list the physical property tables that you can define for each element type.

For a description of an element type or its associated physical properties, see the Simcenter Samcef documentation.

0D elements

Element name	Description	Pre/Post command	Physical property table names	Additional information
Grounded Bush	Node-to-ground spring	0D Mesh	Bush Property	-
Concentrated Mass	Scalar mass node-to-ground	0D Mesh	-	-
Nodal Capacity	Thermal nodal capacity	0D Mesh	-	-

1D elements

Element name	Description	Pre/Post command	Physical property table names	Additional information
Rod [T151] (2)	2-noded rod	1D Mesh or 1D Connection	Rod Property	-
Beam [T22] (2)	2-noded beam	1D Mesh or 1D Connection	Beam Property	If the material attached to a beam's property is non-linear, the beam's section must be thin: ROD, BAR, and user Defined sections are excluded.
Bar [T22] (2)	2-noded thermal bar	1D Mesh or 1D Connection	Bar Property
Bush [Bush]	Node-to-node bush/spring	1D Mesh or 1D Connection	Bush Property	-
Rigid Link [RBE]	Rigid link	1D Mesh or 1D Connection	-	-
MeanInterpolation [Mean]	Averaged kinematic constraint element	1D Mesh or 1D Connection	-	-
Fluid Flow [T221] (2)	Thermal duct element	1D Mesh or 1D Connection	Fluid Property	-
Rigid Body [RIGA]	Rigid Element	1D Mesh or 1D Connection	-	-
Spring Damper Element [SPRI]	Spring and Damper	1D Mesh or 1D Connection	-	-

2D elements

Element name	Description	Pre/Post command	Physical property table names	Additional information
**Mindlin Shell [T28] (3)**Mindlin Shell [T29] (4)	3-noded triangular shell4-noded quadrilateral shell	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Thin ShellLaminatePredefined Laminate	This element exists only in its linear shape.
**Heterosis Shell [T155] (6)**Heterosis Shell [T156] (8)	6-noded triangular Heterosis shell 8-noded quadrilateral Heterosis shell	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Thin ShellLaminatePredefined Laminate	This element exists only in its parabolic shape.
**Membrane [T57] (3)****Membrane [T57] (6)****Membrane [T35] (3)**Membrane [T35] (6)	3-noded triangular structural and thermal membrane6-noded triangular structural and thermal membrane	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Membrane PropertyLaminatePredefined Laminate	-
**Membrane [T58] (4)****Membrane [T58] (8)****Thermal Membrane [T34] (4)**Thermal Membrane [T34] (8)	4-noded quadrangular structural and thermal membrane8-noded quadrangular structural and thermal membrane	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Membrane Property****Laminate	-
Shell Membrane [T53] (3)	3-noded triangular linear shell membrane	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Thin ShellLaminatePredefined Laminate	This shell membrane is triangular shaped only.
**Thermal Shell Membrane [T223] (3)**Thermal Shell Membrane [T224] (4)	3-noded triangular thermal shell membrane3-noded quadrangular thermal shell membrane	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	ShellLaminatePredefined Laminate

2D axisymmetric

Element name	Description	Pre/Post command	Physical property table names	Additional information
**Axisymmetric Solid [T26] (3)**Axisymmetric Solid [T15] (4)	3-noded triangular axisymmetric solid4-noded quadrilateral axisymmetric solid	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Axisymmetric Solid	-
**Axisymmetric Solid [T26] (6)**Axisymmetric Solid [T15] (8)	6-noded triangular axisymmetric solid8-noded quadrilateral axisymmetric solid	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Axisymmetric Solid	-
Axisymmetric Shell [T48] (2)	2-noded axisymmetric shell	1D Mesh	Axisymmetric Shell	-
Axisymmetric Membrane [T30] (2)	2-noded axisymmetric membrane	1D Mesh	Axisymmetric Membrane	-
**Axisymmetric Solid [T35] (3)**Axisymmetric Solid [T34] (4)	3-noded triangular thermal axisymmetric solid4-noded quadrilateral thermal axisymmetric solid	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Axisymmetric Solid	-
**Axisymmetric Solid [T35] (6)**Axisymmetric Solid [T34] (8)	6-noded triangular thermal axisymmetric solid8-noded quadrilateral thermal axisymmetric solid	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Axisymmetric Solid	-
Axisymmetric Membrane [T31] (2)	2-noded thermal axisymmetric membrane	1D Mesh	Axisymmetric Shell	-

Note:

You create axisymmetric elements in a Axisymmetric and Other 2D Structural or Axisymmetric Thermal analysis types when you create a new FEM and a Simulation file. You choose a 2D Solid Option that defines the plane of the global coordinate system in which the elements will be created and the axisymmetric rotational axis:

• ZX Plane, Z Axis — Axisymmetric elements must be on the ZX plane. The axisymmetric rotational axis is Z.

• XY Plane, Y Axis — Axisymmetric elements must be on the XY plane. The axisymmetric rotational axis is Y.

• XY Plane, X Axis — Axisymmetric elements must be on the XY plane. The axisymmetric rotational axis is X.

You cannot create axisymmetric elements that cut the axisymmetric rotational axis.

Plane stress or plane strain elements

Element name	Description	Pre/Post command	Physical property table names	Additional information
**Plane Stress [T26] (3)**Plane Stress [T15] (4)	3-noded triangular plane stress solid4-noded quadrilateral plane stress solid	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Solid 2D Plane	-
**Plane Stress [T26] (6)**Plane Stress [T15] (8)	6-noded triangular plane stress solid8-noded quadrilateral plane stress solid	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Solid 2D Plane	-
**Plane Strain [T26] (3)**Plane Strain [T15] (4)	3-noded triangular plane strain solid4-noded quadrilateral plane strain solid	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Solid 2D Plane	-
**Plane Strain [T26] (6)**Plane Strain [T15] (8)	6-noded triangular plane strain solid8-noded quadrilateral plane strain solid	2D Mesh or 2D Mapped Mesh	Solid 2D Plane	-
Plane Strain Shell [T48] (2)	2-noded plane strain shell	1D Mesh	Shell 1D Plane	-
Plane Strain Membrane [T30] (2)	2-noded plane strain membrane	1D Mesh	Membrane 1D Plane	-
Plane Stress Rod [T30] (2)	2-noded plane stress rod	1D Mesh	Plane Stress Rod	-

Note:

You create plane stress or plane strain elements in a Axisymmetric and Other 2D Structural analysis type when you create a new FEM and a Simulation file. You choose a 2D Solid Option that defines the plane of the global coordinate system in which the elements will be created :

• ZX Plane, Z Axis — Axisymmetric elements must be on the ZX plane.

• XY Plane, Y Axis — Axisymmetric elements must be on the XY plane.

• XY Plane, X Axis — Axisymmetric elements must be on the XY plane.

3D elements

Element name	Description	Pre/Post command	Physical property table names	Additional information
**Solid [T8] (8)****Solid [T8] (20)****Solid [T039] (8)**Solid [T039] (20)	8-noded or 20-noded, structural and thermal hexahedral solid	3D Swept Mesh	Solid Property****Solid Laminate	–
**Solid [T46] (6)****Solid [T46] (15)****Solid [T105] (6)**Solid [T105] (15)	6-noded or 15-noded, 5-sided structural and thermal solid	3D Swept Mesh	Solid Property****Solid Laminate	–
**Solid [T103] (5)**Solid [T103] (13)	5-noded or 13-noded structural and thermal solid	3D Tetrahedral Mesh	Solid Property	–
**Pyr [247] (5)****Pyr [247] (13)****Pyr [103] (5)**Pyr [103] (13)	5-noded or 13-noded structural and thermal pyramid	Select the Transition with Pyramid Elements option in the 3D Tetrahedral Mesh dialog box to create transitional pyramid elements between the tetrahedral mesh and an adjacent hexahedral mesh.	Solid Property	–
**Solid [T47] (4)****Solid [T47] (10)****Solid [T57] (4)**Solid [T57] (10) **Solid [T106] (4)**Solid [T106] (10)	4-noded or 10-noded structural and thermal tetrahedral solid	3D Tetrahedral Mesh or Solid from Shell	Solid Property****Solid Laminate	–
**Solid [T247] (5)**Solid [T247] (13)	5-noded or 13-noded structural solid	3D Tetrahedral Mesh	Solid Property	–
**Solid Shell [T153] (6)**Solid Shell [T154] (8)	6-noded 5-sided solid8-noded hexahedral solid	3D Swept Mesh	Solid Property	–
**Cohesive (8)**Cohesive (20)	8-noded or 20-noded hexahedral cohesive solid	Create New Cohesive Layer	Cohesive Property	For more information, see Layup Modeler dialog box.
**Cohesive (6)**Cohesive (15)	6-noded or 15-noded, five-sided cohesive solid	Create New Cohesive Layer	Cohesive Property	For more information, see Layup Modeler dialog box.
**Solid Ply [T198] (6)**Solid Ply [T199] (8)	6-noded 5-sided solid8-noded hexahedral solid	3D Swept Mesh	Solid Property****Solid Laminate	-

Look up more details

Nastran elements

Multiphysics elements

Abaqus elements

ANSYS elements

LS-DYNA elements

Simcenter 3D Thermal/Flow, Electronic Systems Cooling, and Space Systems Thermal elements

I-deas universal file elements

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Simcenter Samcef elements, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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