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Element Command

The Element command is used to define the element type for subsequent commands that depend on element type.

Element (elem)

where (elem) is

Notes

  1. Element commands must come after the Analysis command.
  2. If there are no Element commands, the default element type is 8 Node Quadrilateral for FEA calculations, 4 Node Quadrilateral for 2D MPM calculations, and 8 Node Brick elements for 3D MPM calculations.
  3. Currently only 4 Node Quadrilateral elements are allowed for 2D MPM calculations and only 8 Node Brick elements are allowed for 3D MPM calculations.
  4. The initial element type can also be defined using an optional second parameter to the Analysis command.
  5. By using multiple Element commands between Area commands, it is possible to mix elements in a single analysis. When mixed elements are used, they must be compatible elements, which means same number of nodes along element edges. For example 3 node triangles can be used with 4 node quadrilaterals and 4 node interfaces and 6 node triangles can be used with 8 node quadrilaterals and 6 node interfaces.