*ELEMENT

Define elements by giving their nodes.

This option is used to define an element directly by specifying its nodes.

This page discusses:

See Also
In Other Guides
Element Definition

ProductsAbaqus/StandardAbaqus/ExplicitAbaqus/CAE

TypeModel data

LevelPartPart instanceAssembly

Abaqus/CAEMesh module

Required parameters

TYPE

Set this parameter equal to the element type, as defined in About the Element Library.

For user elements, specify the Un type identification (see User-Defined Elements). The USER ELEMENT option must also appear in the same input file.

For substructures, specify SUBSTR or Zn type identification. The preferred setting is TYPE=SUBSTR. For more information, see Using Substructures.

Optional parameters

ELSET

Set this parameter equal to the name of the element set to which these elements will be assigned.

FILE

This parameter applies only to Abaqus/Standard analyses. This parameter is meaningful only for substructures.

For TYPE=SUBSTR, set this parameter equal to the substructure name, which is used to name the substructure database files. If the substructure database files are located outside of the user directory, the FILE parameter value must include the relative path to the file location (see Using Substructures).

For TYPE=Zn, set this parameter equal to the prefix in the substructure name (see the SUBSTRUCTURE GENERATE, LIBRARY option).

See Input Syntax Rules for the syntax of such file names.

INPUT

Set this parameter equal to the name of the alternate input file containing the data lines for this option. See Input Syntax Rules for the syntax of such file names. If this parameter is omitted, it is assumed that the data follow the keyword line.

OFFSET

When the ELEMENT option is used to define the connectivity of axisymmetric elements with asymmetric deformation in Abaqus/Standard, set this parameter equal to a positive offset number for use in specifying the additional nodes required in the connectivity (see Element Definition for more information). The default is OFFSET=100000.

When the ELEMENT option is used to define the connectivity of gasket elements in Abaqus/Standard or cohesive elements, set the OFFSET parameter equal to a positive offset number for use in defining the remaining nodes of the element when only part of the element nodes are defined explicitly. If this parameter is omitted, you must specify the connectivity of the entire gasket or cohesive element on the data lines (see Defining the Gasket Element's Initial Geometry and Defining the Cohesive Element's Initial Geometry).

When the ELEMENT option is used to define the connectivity of thermal fluid pipe elements or thermal fluid pipe connector elements in Abaqus/Standard, set the OFFSET parameter equal to a positive offset number for use in defining the remaining nodes of the element when only the first two element nodes are defined explicitly. If this parameter is omitted, you must specify the connectivity of the entire element on the data lines (see Fluid Pipe Element Library and Fluid Pipe Connector Element Library).

SOLID ELEMENT NUMBERING

This parameter applies only to Abaqus/Standard analyses.

This parameter can be used only when the ELEMENT option is used to define gasket elements. Use this parameter to specify the connectivity of gasket elements using the node ordering of an equivalent solid element. Set it equal to the face number of the equivalent solid element that corresponds to the first face (SNEG) of the gasket element. If no value is assigned to this parameter, it is assumed that the first face (S1) of the solid element corresponds to the first face of the gasket element.

Data lines to define the elements

First line
  1. Element number.

  2. First node number forming the element.

  3. Second node number forming the element.

  4. Etc., up to 15 node numbers on this line.

The order of nodes for each element type (the element's connectivity) is given in About the Element Library.

Continuation lines (only required if the previous line ends with a comma)
  1. Node numbers forming the element.

Repeat this set of data lines as often as necessary, with up to 16 integer values per line.