MeshElement object

The MeshElement object refers to an element of a native mesh or an orphan mesh. A MeshElement object can be accessed via a part or part instance using an index that refers to the internal numbering of the element repository. The index does not refer to the element label.

This page discusses:

Access

import part
mdb.models[name].parts[name].allInternalSets[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].parts[name].allInternalSurfaces[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].parts[name].allSets[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].parts[name].allSurfaces[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].parts[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].parts[name].sets[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].parts[name].surfaces[name].elements[i]
import assembly
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.allInstances[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.allInstances[name].sets[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.allInstances[name].surfaces[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.allInternalSets[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.allInternalSurfaces[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.allSets[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.allSurfaces[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.instances[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.instances[name].sets[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.instances[name].surfaces[name]\
.elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.modelInstances[i].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.modelInstances[i].sets[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.modelInstances[i].surfaces[name]\
.elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.sets[name].elements[i]
mdb.models[name].rootAssembly.surfaces[name].elements[i]

Element(...)

This method creates an element on an orphan mesh part from a sequence of nodes.

Path

mdb.models[name].parts[name].Element

Required arguments

nodes

A sequence of MeshNode objects.

elemShape

A SymbolicConstant specifying the shape of the new element. Possible values are LINE2, LINE3, TRI3, TRI6, QUAD4, QUAD8, TET4, TET10, WEDGE6, WEDGE15, HEX8, and HEX20.

Optional arguments

label

An Int specifying the element label.

Return value

A MeshElement object.

Exceptions

None.

getNodes()

This method returns a tuple of node objects of the element.

Arguments

None.

Return value

A tuple of MeshNode objects.

Exceptions

None.

getElemEdges()

This method returns a tuple of unique element edge objects on the element.

Arguments

None.

Return value

A tuple of MeshEdge objects.

Exceptions

None.

getElemFaces()

This method returns a tuple of unique element face objects on the element.

Arguments

None.

Return value

A tuple of MeshFace objects.

Exceptions

None.

getAdjacentElements()

This method returns an array of element objects adjacent to the mesh element.

Arguments

None.

Return value

A MeshElementArray object which is a sequence of MeshElement objects.

Exceptions

None.

getElementsByFeatureEdge(...)

This method returns an array of mesh element objects that are obtained by recursively finding adjacent elements along a feature edge with a face angle of less than or equal to the specified angle.

Required arguments

angle

A float specifying the value of the face angle in degrees.

Optional arguments

None.

Return value

A MeshElementArray object, which is a sequence of MeshElement objects.

Exceptions

None.

setValues(...)

This method modifies the MeshElement object.

Required arguments

None.

Optional arguments

label

An Int specifying the element label. This member may only be edited if the element belongs to an orphan mesh part. The specified label must be non-negative and must not be in use by any other element of the same part.

Return value

None.

Exceptions

None.

Members

The MeshElement object has the following members:

label

An Int specifying the element label.

type

A SymbolicConstant specifying the Abaqus element code.

instanceName

A String specifying the name of the part instance that owns this element.

connectivity

A tuple of Ints specifying the internal node indices that define the nodal connectivity. It is important to note the difference with OdbMeshElement object of ODB where the connectivity is node labels instead of node indices.