Comprehensive Element Technology

The current generation of ANSYS element technologies provides rich functionality with a consistent theoretical foundation coupled with the most advanced algorithms. ANSYS structural mechanics software provides a large library of elements including beam, pipes, shells, solids, 2-D planar/axisymmetric and 3-D axisymmetric elements, which have wide applicability that includes composites, buckling and collapse analysis, dynamics analysis, and nonlinear applications. The library also includes special-purpose elements like gaskets, joints, interface elements and layered elements for composite structures.

These elements offer superior performance and functionality. They also support advanced material models and methods like remeshing/rezoning, fracture mechanics and coupled fields while also accommodating distributed solver processing needs.

Solid Elements

2-D quad/tri

3-D hexa/tetra/wedge/pyramid

Layered solids

Solid shell

4-node tetra (stabilized)

 

Coupled-Field Elements

Pore pressure elements

Fluid–thermal

Magneto–structural

Thermal–electric

Hydrostatic fluid elements

Shell Elements

Lower/higher order

Layered shells

 

Beam Elements

Multi-material beam analysis

Beam cross section definition

Special Elements

Rebars/reinforcements

Links/pipes/elbow

Springs/joints

Cohesive zone

Gaskets

User elements