9 docs tagged with "2D elements"

Definition

There are two different classes of 2D elements. The basic 2D element is the normal finite elements used for structural applications included in-plane and/or out-of-plane behaviour. The load panel element is a non-structural element used to apply load to beam elements.

2D entity loading applies to 2D members and elements. When loads are applied to members, they will be automatically expanded to load the appropriate finite elements.

Linear 2D elements can be defined as load panels. A load panel element is not structural and so does not contribute to the stiffness or mass of the structure. The purpose of the load panel is to allow loads to be defined as a face load on 2D elements and then distributed to the beam elements surrounding the 2D element. In many ways face loads on load panels gives an alternative to grid load.

Some structures can only be adequately modelled using 2D elements. For examples cores (where deformations in the plane of the element dominate) or floor slabs (where deflections normal to the plane of the element dominate). This section gives an introduction to 2D elements for linear analysis. Nonlinear analysis using 2D elements is discussed later.

Linear 2D elements (i.e. Tri3 and Quad4) can be converted to quadratic (i.e. Tri6 and Quad8, respectively) using the Sculpt > 2D element operations > Modify linear 2D to Quadratic menu command. The procedure is as follows.

Quadratic 2D elements (i.e. Tri6 and Quad8) can be converted to linear (i.e. Tri3 and Quad4, respectively) using the Sculpt > 2D element operations > Modify quadratic 2D to linear menu command. The procedure is as follows.

GSA can calculate a large range of results. However not all these results may be required so this allows for selection of particular results to be stored. For an explicit solver these can be selected separately for Full Model Results and for Selected Model Results

This dialog can be accessed from the Model > Manipulate > Split warped 2D elements menu command.