Assigning an Abaqus element type

In this section you will use the Element Type dialog box to assign a particular Abaqus element type to the model. Although you will assign the element type now, you could also wait until after the mesh has been created.

Related Topics
In Other Guides
Controlling mesh characteristics
About the element library

  1. From the main menu bar, select MeshElement Type.

    The Element Type dialog box appears.

  2. In the dialog box, accept the following default selections that control the elements that are available for selection:

    • Standard is the default Element Library selection.

    • Linear is the default Geometric Order.

    • 3D Stress is the default Family of elements.

  3. In the lower portion of the dialog box, examine the element shape options. A brief description of the default element selection is available at the bottom of each tabbed page.

    Since the model is a three-dimensional solid, only three-dimensional solid element types—hexahedral on the Hex tabbed page, triangular prism on the Wedge page, and tetrahedral on the Tet page—are shown.

  4. Click the Hex tab, and choose Incompatible modes from the list of formulation options.

    A description of the element type C3D8I appears at the bottom of the dialog box. Abaqus/CAE will now associate C3D8I elements with the elements in the mesh.

  5. Click OK to assign the element type and to close the dialog box.