Bar elements:
Bar2 = Configuration 60 (1st order) elements with 2 nodes used to model axial, bending, and torsion behavior. Bar2 elements have a property reference, an orientation vector, offset vectors and ends A and B, and pin flags at ends A and B.
Bar3 = Configuration 63 – 1D (2nd order) elements with 3 nodes used to model axial, bending, and torsion behavior. Bar3 elements have a property reference, an orientation vector, offset vectors and ends A and B, and pin flags at ends A and B.
Gap elements:
Configuration 22 – 1D elements with 2, 4, or 6 nodes which have a property and orientation systems or nodes. Joint element is a definition of a connection between two rigid bodies. Joint elements store a property and orientation information. Joint elements are displayed with lines between the appropriate nodes and the letter J between nodes 1 and 3 of the element. Only certain types of elements can be used to create joint elements. The type of the element controls the number of nodes used in the element and the permissible orientations of the element.
Plot Elements:
Configuration 2 – 1D elements with 2 nodes used for display purposes. Plot elements are displayed as a line between two nodes.
RBE3 Elements:
Configuration 56 – Rigid elements with one dependent node and variable independent nodes typically used to define the motion at the dependent node as a weighted average of the motions at the independent nodes. Both the dependent node and independent nodes contain a coefficient (weighting factor) and user-defined degrees of freedom. The dependent degrees of freedom and weighting factors can be specified or automatically calculated based on the geometry. RBE3 elements are displayed as lines between the dependent node and the independent node(s) with RBE3 displayed at the dependent node of the element. RBE3’s are typically used to distribute loads applied on the dependent node amongst the selected independent nodes. Note: The dependent node cannot be directly constrained, as this would lead to a double-dependency for that node.
Rigidlink Elements:
Configuration 55 – Rigid elements with one independent node and variable dependent nodes typically used to model rigid bodies. Rigidlink elements have user-defined degrees of freedom which apply to all dependent nodes. Rigidlink elements can be created with dependent nodes attached to an element as a SET. If a rigid link with a dependent node set is deleted, the associated node set is also deleted. If the dependent node set is deleted, the connected rigid link element is also deleted. Dependent node sets are automatically created when rigid link elements are created. A node set can be connected as a set of dependent nodes to a rigid link element independent node. Note: Two-node rigids with a dependent node set attached are always created as rigid link elements Rigidlink elements are displayed as lines between the independent node and the dependent node(s) with RL displayed at the independent node of the element.
Rigid Elements:
Configuration 5 – Rigid 1D elements with 2 nodes used to model rigid connections. Rigid elements are displayed as a line between two nodes with the letter R written at the centroid of the element. Rigids can translate to RBE2 in Nastran or *MPC in Abaqus.
Rod Elements:
Configuration 61 – 1D elements with 2 nodes used to model axial behavior only. The two nodes are related to each other based on the properties of the rod element connecting them. Rod elements have property pointers. Rod elements are displayed as a line between two nodes with ROD written at the centroid of the element. Rods can translate to CTUBES in Nastran or a C1D2 element in Abaqus.
Spring Elements:
Configuration 21 – 1D elements used to model spring connections. Spring elements have user-defined degrees of freedom, an orientation vector, and a property reference. Spring elements are displayed as a line between two nodes with the letter K written at the centroid of the element.
Spring = 1D elements with 2 nodes used to model spring connections.
Spring2N = 1D elements with 2 nodes used to model spring connections.
Spring3N = 1D elements with 3 nodes used to model spring connections. The third node serves as the direction node.
Spring4N = 1D elements with 4 nodes used to model spring connections. This type of element will mostly be considered as joints, based on the property it is assigned.
Springs can translate to CELAS2 in Nastran or *SPRING in Abaqus.
Weld Elements
Configuration 3 – Rigid 1D elements with 2 nodes used to model welded connections. Weld elements are displayed as a line between two nodes with the letter W written at the centroid of the element.
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