1/9/2018 Element Types

FEA Element Types

Elements fall into four major categories: 2D line elements, 2D planar elements, and 3D
solid elements which are all used to define geometry; and special elements used to apply
boundary conditions. For example special elements might include gap elements to
specify a gap between two pieces of geometry. Spring elements are used to apply a
specific spring constant at a specified node or set of nodes. Rigid elements are used to
define a rigid connection to or in a model. The figures below show nodes in red and the
element in translucent blue except for the beam element which is bright blue. The most
common geometry elements are show below. Most FEA tools support additional element
types as well as somewhat different implementations of even these common elements.

Truss Element (2D Line)

Truss elements are long and slender,

have 2 nodes, and can be oriented
anywhere in 3D space. Truss elements
transmit force axially only and are 3
DOF elements which allow translation
only and not rotation. Trusses are
normally used to model towers,
bridges, and buildings. A constant cross
section area is assumed and they are
used for linear elastic structural
analysis.

Beam Element (2D Line)

Beam elements are long and slender,

have three nodes, and can be oriented
anywhere in 3D space. Beam elements
are 6 DOF elements allowing both
translation and rotation at each end
node. That is the primary difference
between beam and truss elements. The
http://fea-cae-engineering.com/fea-cae-engineering/element_types.htm 1/5
1/9/2018 Element Types

I J nodes define element geometry, the

K node defines the cross sectional
orientation. This is how you
differentiate between the strong and
weak axis of bending for a beam. A
constant cross section area is assumed.
In the image, the beam shape is shown
only for visualization, the element is
the dark blue rod. The I J axis runs
from the near to far node. K is shown
vertically above the I node or could be
horizontally to the right of I.
2D Element (2D Planar)

2D Elements are 3 or 4 node elements

with only 2 DOF, Y and Z translation,
and are normally created in the YZ
plane. They are used for Plane Stress
or Plane Strain analyses. Common
applications include axisymmetric
bodies of revolution such as missile
radomes, radial seals, etc. and long
sections with constant cross sectional
area such as a dam. Plane Stress
implies no stress normal to the cross
section defined - strain is allowed -
suitable to model the 2D cross section
of a body of revolution. Plane Strain
implies no strain normal to the cross
section defined - stress is allowed -
suitable to model the 2D cross section
of a long dam.
Membrane Element (2D Planar)

Membrane Elements are 3 or 4 node 2D

elements that can be oriented
anywhere in 3D space. They can be
used to model thin membrane like
materials like fabric, thin metal shells,
etc. These elements will not support or
transmit a moment load or stress
normal to the surface. They support
only translational DOF not rotational
and in-plane loading. The thickness of
the membrane must be small relative
to its length or width. Membrane
thickness is defined as a fixed
parameter which can be varied. The
geometry is drawn at the midplane with

http://fea-cae-engineering.com/fea-cae-engineering/element_types.htm 2/5
1/9/2018 Element Types

zero thickness shown, similar to a plate

element.
Plate Element (2D Planar)

Plate elements are 3 or 4 node 2D

planar elements that can be oriented
anywhere in 3D space. They are
typically used to model structures
comprised of shells such as pressure
vessels, automobile bodies, ship hulls,
and aircraft fuselages. Generally a
thicker wall than for a membrane
element but about 1/10 the length or
width. All translational DOF are
supported as well as rotational DOF
that are not out of plane. That is
rotation about the normal to the
element surface is not allowed. Plate
thickness is defined as a fixed
parameter which can be varied. The
geometry is drawn at the midplane with
zero thickness shown.

3D Tetrahedra Element, 4 Nodes

(3D Solid)

See definition below for the 8 node

brick, you can usually specify either all
tetrahedra, all bricks, or a mixture of
both with some automatic mesh
generators.

3D Tetrahedra Element, 5 Nodes,

Pyramid (3D Solid)

See definition below for the 8 node

brick, you can usually specify either all
tetrahedra, all bricks, or a mixture of
both with some automatic mesh
generators.

3D Tetrahedra Element, 6 Nodes,

Wedge (3D Solid)

See definition below for the 8 node

brick, you can usually specify either all
tetrahedra, all bricks, or a mixture of
both with some automatic mesh
generators.
http://fea-cae-engineering.com/fea-cae-engineering/element_types.htm 3/5
1/9/2018 Element Types

3D Tetrahedra Element with

Midside Nodes, 15 Nodes, Wedge
(3D Solid)

See definition below for the 8 node

brick, you can usually specify either all
tetrahedra, all bricks, or a mixture of
both with most automatic mesh
generators.
3D Brick Element, 8 Nodes (3D
Solid)

Brick or tetrahedra elements may have

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, or 20 nodes and
support only translational DOF. They
are normally used to model solid
objects for which plate elements are
not appropriate. You can usually specify
either all tetrahedra, all bricks, or a
mixture of both with some automatic
mesh generators. This is the most
common, and frequently the only
element type supported by automatic
mesh generators. Bricks work quite
well for any "blocky" structures which
are typical of machined, cast, or forged
fabricated parts. Structural and thermal
bricks exist so the same model
geometry can be used for both the
initial steady state heat transfer and
subsequent thermal stress
computations. Bricks compute stress
through the thickness of a part.
3D Brick Element with Midside
Nodes, 20 Nodes (3D Solid)

See definition above for the 8 node

brick. Midside nodes can be included if
desired, also some FEA tools include an
additional 21st node at the centroid of
the brick which can be useful in
computation quality comparisons.
http://fea-cae-engineering.com/fea-cae-engineering/element_types.htm 4/5
1/9/2018 Element Types

Copyright © 2006 - 2014 by DeepSoft, LLC, All Rights Reserved

http://fea-cae-engineering.com/fea-cae-engineering/element_types.htm 5/5