Three-Dimensional Solid Element Library

This section provides a reference to the three-dimensional solid elements available in Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit.

This page discusses:

 

See Also
Solid (Continuum) Elements
*SOLID SECTION

Element Types

Stress/Displacement Elements

C3D4

4-node linear tetrahedron

C3D4H

4-node linear tetrahedron, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D5

5-node linear pyramid

C3D5H(S)

5-node linear pyramid, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D6(S)

6-node linear triangular prism

C3D6(E)

6-node linear triangular prism, reduced integration with hourglass control

C3D6H(S)

6-node linear triangular prism, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D8

8-node linear brick

C3D8H(S)

8-node linear brick, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D8I

8-node linear brick, incompatible modes

C3D8IH(S)

8-node linear brick, incompatible modes, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D8R

8-node linear brick, reduced integration with hourglass control

C3D8RH(S)

8-node linear brick, reduced integration with hourglass control, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D8S(S)

8-node linear brick, improved surface stress visualization

C3D8HS(S)

8-node linear brick, hybrid with constant pressure, improved surface stress visualization

C3D10

10-node quadratic tetrahedron

C3D10H(S)

10-node quadratic tetrahedron, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D10HS(S)

10-node general-purpose quadratic tetrahedron, improved surface stress visualization

C3D10M

10-node modified tetrahedron, with hourglass control

C3D10MH(S)

10-node modified tetrahedron, with hourglass control, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D15(S)

15-node quadratic triangular prism

C3D15H(S)

15-node quadratic triangular prism, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D20(S)

20-node quadratic brick

C3D20H(S)

20-node quadratic brick, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D20R(S)

20-node quadratic brick, reduced integration

C3D20RH(S)

20-node quadratic brick, reduced integration, hybrid with linear pressure

CSS8(S)

8-node linear solid shell brick, incompatible modes, with assumed strain

Active Degrees of Freedom

1, 2, 3

Additional Solution Variables

The constant pressure hybrid elements have one additional variable relating to pressure, and the linear pressure hybrid elements have four additional variables relating to pressure.

Element types C3D8I and C3D8IH have thirteen additional variables relating to the incompatible modes.

Element types C3D10M and C3D10MH have three additional displacement variables.

Element type CSS8 has seven additional variables relating to the incompatible modes.

Stress/Displacement Variable Node Elements

C3D15V(S)

15 to 18-node triangular prism

C3D15VH(S)

15 to 18-node triangular prism, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D27(S)

21 to 27-node brick

C3D27H(S)

21 to 27-node brick, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D27R(S)

21 to 27-node brick, reduced integration

C3D27RH(S)

21 to 27-node brick, reduced integration, hybrid with linear pressure

Active Degrees of Freedom

1, 2, 3

Additional Solution Variables

The hybrid elements have four additional variables relating to pressure.

Coupled Temperature-Displacement Elements

C3D4T

4-node linear displacement and temperature

C3D6T(S)

6-node linear displacement and temperature

C3D6T(E)

6-node linear displacement and temperature, reduced integration with hourglass control

C3D6HT(S)

6-node linear displacement and temperature, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D8T

8-node trilinear displacement and temperature

C3D8HT(S)

8-node trilinear displacement and temperature, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D8RT

8-node trilinear displacement and temperature, reduced integration with hourglass control

C3D8RHT(S)

8-node trilinear displacement and temperature, reduced integration with hourglass control, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D10T(S)

10-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear temperature

C3D10HT(S)

10-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear temperature, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D10MT

10-node modified displacement and temperature tetrahedron, with hourglass control

C3D10MHT(S)

10-node modified displacement and temperature tetrahedron, with hourglass control, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D20T(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear temperature

C3D20HT(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear temperature, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D20RT(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear temperature, reduced integration

C3D20RHT(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear temperature, reduced integration, hybrid with linear pressure

Active Degrees of Freedom

1, 2, 3, 11 at corner nodes

1, 2, 3 at midside nodes of second-order elements in Abaqus/Standard

1, 2, 3, 11 at midside nodes of modified displacement and temperature elements in Abaqus/Standard

Additional Solution Variables

The constant pressure hybrid element has one additional variable relating to pressure, and the linear pressure hybrid elements have four additional variables relating to pressure.

Element types C3D10MT and C3D10MHT have three additional displacement variables and one additional temperature variable.

Coupled Thermal-Electrical-Structural Elements

Q3D4(S)

4-node linear displacement, electric potential and temperature

Q3D6(S)

6-node linear displacement, electric potential and temperature

Q3D8(S)

8-node trilinear displacement, electric potential and temperature

Q3D8H(S)

8-node trilinear displacement, electric potential and temperature, hybrid with constant pressure

Q3D8R(S)

8-node trilinear displacement, electric potential and temperature, reduced integration with hourglass control

Q3D8RH(S)

8-node trilinear displacement, electric potential and temperature, reduced integration with hourglass control, hybrid with constant pressure

Q3D10M(S)

10-node modified displacement, electric potential and temperature tetrahedron, with hourglass control

Q3D10MH(S)

10-node modified displacement, electric potential and temperature tetrahedron, with hourglass control, hybrid with linear pressure

Q3D20(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear electric potential and trilinear temperature

Q3D20H(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear electric potential, trilinear temperature, hybrid with linear pressure

Q3D20R(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear electric potential, trilinear temperature, reduced integration

Q3D20RH(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear electric potential, trilinear temperature, reduced integration, hybrid with linear pressure

Active Degrees of Freedom

1, 2, 3, 9, 11 at corner nodes

1, 2, 3 at midside nodes of second-order elements in Abaqus/Standard

1, 2, 3, 9, 11 at midside nodes of modified displacement and temperature elements in Abaqus/Standard

Additional Solution Variables

The constant pressure hybrid element has one additional variable relating to pressure, and the linear pressure hybrid elements have four additional variables relating to pressure.

Element types Q3D10M and Q3D10MH have three additional displacement variables, one additional electric potential variable, and one additional temperature variable.

Diffusive Heat Transfer or Mass Diffusion Elements

DC3D4(S)

4-node linear tetrahedron

DC3D5

5-node linear pyramid

DC3D6(S)

6-node linear triangular prism

DC3D8(S)

8-node linear brick

DC3D8R(S)
8-node linear brick, reduced integration, hourglass control
DC3D10(S)

10-node quadratic tetrahedron

DC3D15(S)

15-node quadratic triangular prism

DC3D20(S)

20-node quadratic brick

Active Degrees of Freedom

11

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Forced Convection/Diffusion Elements

DCC3D8(S)

8-node

DCC3D8D(S)

8-node with dispersion control

Active Degrees of Freedom

11

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Coupled Thermal-Electrical Elements

DC3D4E(S)

4-node linear tetrahedron

DC3D6E(S)

6-node linear triangular prism

DC3D8E(S)

8-node linear brick

DC3D10E(S)

10-node quadratic tetrahedron

DC3D15E(S)

15-node quadratic triangular prism

DC3D20E(S)

20-node quadratic brick

Active Degrees of Freedom

9, 11

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Pore Pressure Elements

C3D4P(S)

4-node linear displacement and pore pressure

C3D4PH(S)

4-node linear displacement and pore pressure, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D6P(S)

6-node linear displacement and pore pressure

C3D6PH(S)

6-node linear displacement and pore pressure, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D8P(S)

8-node trilinear displacement and pore pressure

C3D8PH(S)

8-node trilinear displacement and pore pressure, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D8RP(S)

8-node trilinear displacement and pore pressure, reduced integration

C3D8RPH(S)

8-node trilinear displacement and pore pressure, reduced integration, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D10P(S)

10-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear pore pressure

C3D10PH(S)

10-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear pore pressure, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D10MP(S)

10-node modified displacement and pore pressure tetrahedron, with hourglass control

C3D10MPH(S)

10-node modified displacement and pore pressure tetrahedron, with hourglass control, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D20P(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear pore pressure

C3D20PH(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear pore pressure, hybrid with linear pressure

C3D20RP(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear pore pressure, reduced integration

C3D20RPH(S)

20-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear pore pressure, reduced integration, hybrid with linear pressure

Active Degrees of Freedom

1, 2, 3 at midside nodes for all elements except C3D10MP and C3D10MPH, which also have degree of freedom 8 active at midside nodes

1, 2, 3, 8 at corner nodes

Additional Solution Variables

The constant pressure hybrid elements have one additional variable relating to the effective pressure stress, and the linear pressure hybrid elements have four additional variables relating to the effective pressure stress to permit fully incompressible material modeling.

Element types C3D10MP and C3D10MPH have three additional displacement variables and one additional pore pressure variable.

Coupled Temperature–Pore Pressure Elements

C3D4PT(S)

4-node trilinear displacement, pore pressure, and temperature

C3D4PHT(S)

4-node trilinear displacement, pore pressure, and temperature; hybrid with linear pressure

C3D6PT(S)

6-node trilinear displacement, pore pressure, and temperature

C3D6PHT(S)

6-node trilinear displacement, pore pressure, and temperature; hybrid with constant pressure

C3D8PT(S)

8-node trilinear displacement, pore pressure, and temperature

C3D8PHT(S)

8-node trilinear displacement, pore pressure, and temperature; hybrid with constant pressure

C3D8RPT(S)

8-node trilinear displacement, pore pressure, and temperature; reduced integration

C3D8RPHT(S)

8-node trilinear displacement, pore pressure, and temperature; reduced integration, hybrid with constant pressure

C3D10MPT(S)

10-node modified displacement, pore pressure, and temperature tetrahedron, with hourglass control

C3D10PT(S)

10-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear pore pressure, and temperature

C3D10PHT(S)

10-node triquadratic displacement, trilinear pore pressure, and temperature; hybrid with constant pressure

Active Degrees of Freedom

1, 2, 3, 8, 11

Additional Solution Variables

The constant pressure hybrid elements have one additional variable relating to the effective pressure stress to permit fully incompressible material modeling.

Element type C3D10MPT has three additional displacement variables, one additional pore pressure variable, and one additional temperature variable.

Acoustic Elements

AC3D4

4-node linear tetrahedron

AC3D5

5-node linear pyramid

AC3D6

6-node linear triangular prism

AC3D8(S)

8-node linear brick

AC3D8R(E)

8-node linear brick, reduced integration with hourglass control

AC3D10(S)

10-node quadratic tetrahedron

AC3D15(S)

15-node quadratic triangular prism

AC3D20(S)

20-node quadratic brick

Active Degrees of Freedom

8

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Poroelastic Acoustic Elements

C3D4A(S)

4-node linear tetrahedron

C3D6A(S)

6-node linear triangular prism

C3D8A(S)

8-node linear brick

Active Degrees of Freedom

1, 2, 3, 8

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Piezoelectric Elements

C3D4E(S)

4-node linear tetrahedron

C3D6E(S)

6-node linear triangular prism

C3D8E(S)

8-node linear brick

C3D10E(S)

10-node quadratic tetrahedron

C3D15E(S)

15-node quadratic triangular prism

C3D20E(S)

20-node quadratic brick

C3D20RE(S)

20-node quadratic brick, reduced integration

Active Degrees of Freedom

1, 2, 3, 9

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Electromagnetic Elements

EMC3D4(S)

4-node zero-order

EMC3D6(S)

6-node zero-order

EMC3D8(S)

8-node zero-order

Active Degrees of Freedom

Magnetic vector potential (for more information, see Boundary Conditions and Boundary Conditions).

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Coupled Thermal-Electrochemical Elements

QEC3D8(S)

8-node trilinear electric potential in solid, temperature, electric potential in fluid, and ion concentration

Active Degrees of Freedom

9, 11, 32, 33 at corner nodes

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Coupled Thermal-Electrochemical-Structural Elements

QEC3D8(S)

8-node trilinear displacement, electric potential in solid, temperature, electric potential in fluid, and ion concentration

Active Degrees of Freedom

1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 32, 33 at corner nodes

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Nodal Coordinates Required

X, Y, Z

Element Property Definition

Element-Based Loading

Distributed Loads

Distributed loads are available for all elements with displacement degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Distributed Loads.

*dload
  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): BX
  2. FL−3

  3. Body force in global X-direction.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): BY
  2. FL−3

  3. Body force in global Y-direction.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): BZ
  2. FL−3

  3. Body force in global Z-direction.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): BXNU
  2. FL−3

  3. Nonuniform body force in global X-direction with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DLOAD in Abaqus/Standard and VDLOAD in Abaqus/Explicit.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): BYNU
  2. FL−3

  3. Nonuniform body force in global Y-direction with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DLOAD in Abaqus/Standard  and VDLOAD in Abaqus/Explicit.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): BZNU
  2. FL−3

  3. Nonuniform body force in global Z-direction with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DLOAD in Abaqus/Standard  and VDLOAD in Abaqus/Explicit.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): CENT(S)
  2. FL−4(ML−3T−2)

  3. Centrifugal load (magnitude is input as ρ⁢ω2, where ρ is the mass density per unit volume, ω is the angular velocity). Not available for pore pressure elements.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): CENTRIF(S)
  2. T−2

  3. Centrifugal load (magnitude is input as ω2, where ω is the angular velocity).

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): CORIO(S)
  2. FL−4T (ML−3T−1)

  3. Coriolis force (magnitude is input as ρ⁢ω, where ρ is the mass density per unit volume, ω is the angular velocity). Not available for pore pressure elements.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): GRAV
  2. LT−2

  3. Gravity loading in a specified direction (magnitude is input as acceleration).

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): HPn(S)
  2. FL−2

  3. Hydrostatic pressure on face n, linear in global Z.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): Pn
  2. FL−2

  3. Pressure on face n.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): PnNU
  2. FL−2

  3. Nonuniform pressure on face n with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DLOAD in Abaqus/Standard and VDLOAD in Abaqus/Explicit.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): ROTA(S)
  2. T−2

  3. Rotary acceleration load (magnitude is input as α, where α is the rotary acceleration).

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): ROTDYNF(S)
  2. T−1

  3. Rotordynamic load (magnitude is input as ω, where ω is the angular velocity).

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): SBF(E)
  2. FL−5T2

  3. Stagnation body force in global X-, Y-, and Z-directions.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): SPn(E)
  2. FL−4T2

  3. Stagnation pressure on face n.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): TRSHRn
  2. FL−2

  3. Shear traction on face n.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): TRSHRnNU(S)
  2. FL−2

  3. Nonuniform shear traction on face n with magnitude and direction supplied via user subroutine UTRACLOAD.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): TRVECn
  2. FL−2

  3. General traction on face n.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): TRVECnNU(S)
  2. FL−2

  3. Nonuniform general traction on face n with magnitude and direction supplied via user subroutine UTRACLOAD.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): VBF(E)
  2. FL−4T

  3. Viscous body force in global X-, Y-, and Z-directions.

  1. Load ID (*DLOAD): VPn(E)
  2. FL−3T

  3. Viscous pressure on face n, applying a pressure proportional to the velocity normal to the face and opposing the motion.

Foundations

Foundations are available for Abaqus/Standard elements with displacement degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Element Foundations.

*foundation
  1. Load ID (*FOUNDATION): Fn(S)
  2. FL−3

  3. Elastic foundation on face n.

Distributed Heat Fluxes

Distributed heat fluxes are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Thermal Loads.

*dflux
  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): BF
  2. JL−3T−1

  3. Heat body flux per unit volume.

  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): BFNU
  2. JL−3T−1

  3. Nonuniform heat body flux per unit volume with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DFLUX in Abaqus/Standard and VDFLUX in Abaqus/Explicit.

  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): MBFNU (S)
  2. JT−1

  3. Nonuniform moving or stationary concentrated heat fluxes with magnitudes supplied via user subroutine UMDFLUX.

  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): Sn
  2. JL−2T−1

  3. Heat surface flux per unit area into face n.

  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): SnNU
  2. JL−2T−1

  3. Nonuniform heat surface flux per unit area into face n with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DFLUX in Abaqus/Standard and VDFLUX in Abaqus/Explicit.

Film Conditions

Film conditions are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Thermal Loads.

*film
  1. Load ID (*FILM): Fn
  2. JL−2T−1θ−1

  3. Film coefficient and sink temperature (units of θ) provided on face n.

  1. Load ID (*FILM): FnNU(S)
  2. JL−2T−1θ−1

  3. Nonuniform film coefficient and sink temperature (units of θ) provided on face n with magnitude supplied via user subroutine FILM.

  1. Load ID (*FILM): FFS (S)
  2. JL−2T−1θ−1

  3. Film coefficient and sink temperature (units of θ) provided on all free faces of an element.

  1. Load ID (*FILM): FFSNU (S)
  2. JL−2T−1θ−1

  3. Nonuniform film coefficient and sink temperature (units of θ) provided on all free faces of an element with magnitude supplied vis user subroutine.

Radiation Types

Radiation conditions are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Thermal Loads.

*radiate
  1. Load ID (*RADIATE): Rn
  2. Dimensionless

  3. Emissivity and sink temperature (units of θ) provided on face n.

  1. Load ID (*RADIATE): RFS
  2. Dimensionless

  3. Emissivity and sink temperature (units of θ) provided on free faces of an element.

Distributed Flows

Distributed flows are available for all elements with pore pressure degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Pore Fluid Flow.

*flow
  1. Load ID (*FLOW): Qn(S)
  2. F−1L3T−1

  3. Seepage coefficient and reference sink pore pressure (units of FL−2) provided on face n.

  1. Load ID (*FLOW): QnD(S)
  2. F−1L3T−1

  3. Drainage-only seepage coefficient provided on face n.

  1. Load ID (*FLOW): QnNU(S)
  2. F−1L3T−1

  3. Nonuniform seepage coefficient and reference sink pore pressure (units of FL−2) provided on face n with magnitude supplied via user subroutine FLOW.

*dflow
  1. Load ID (*DFLOW): Sn(S)
  2. LT−1

  3. Prescribed pore fluid effective velocity (outward from the face) on face n.

  1. Load ID (*DFLOW): SnNU(S)
  2. LT−1

  3. Nonuniform prescribed pore fluid effective velocity (outward from the face) on face n with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DFLOW.

Distributed Impedances

Distributed impedances are available for all elements with acoustic pressure degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Acoustic and Shock Loads.

*impedance
  1. Load ID (*IMPEDANCE): In
  2. None

  3. Name of the impedance property that defines the impedance on face n.

Electric Fluxes

Electric fluxes are available for piezoelectric elements. They are specified as described in Piezoelectric Analysis.

*decharge
  1. Load ID (*DECHARGE): EBF(S)
  2. CL−3

  3. Body flux per unit volume.

  1. Load ID (*DECHARGE): ESn(S)
  2. CL−2

  3. Prescribed surface charge on face n.

Distributed Electric Current Densities

Distributed electric current densities are available for coupled thermal-electrical, coupled thermal-electrochemical, coupled thermal-electrical-structural, coupled thermal-electrochemical-structural, and electromagnetic elements. They are specified as described in Coupled Thermal-Electrical Analysis, Coupled Thermal-Electrochemical Analysis, Fully Coupled Thermal-Electrical-Structural Analysis, and Eddy Current Analysis.

Distributed fluid electric current densities are available for coupled thermal-electrochemical and coupled thermal-electrochemical-structural elements. They are specified as described in Coupled Thermal-Electrochemical Analysis.

*decurrent
  1. Load ID (*DECURRENT): CBF(S)
  2. CL−3T−1

  3. Volumetric current source density.

  1. Load ID (*DECURRENT): CSn(S)
  2. CL−2T−1

  3. Current density on face n.

  1. Load ID (*DECURRENT): CJ(S)
  2. CL−2T−1

  3. Volume current density vector in an eddy current analysis.

  1. Load ID (*DECURRENT): ECSn (S)
  2. CL−2T−1

  3. Fluid current density on face n.

Distributed Concentration Fluxes

Distributed concentration fluxes are available for mass diffusion elements, coupled thermal-electrochemical and coupled thermal-electrochemical-structural elements. They are specified as described in Mass Diffusion Analysis and Coupled Thermal-Electrochemical Analysis.

*dflux
  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): BF(S)
  2. PT−1

  3. Concentration body flux per unit volume.

  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): BFCE (S)
  2. Mole L−3T−1

  3. Ion concentration body flux per unit volume.

  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): BFNU(S)
  2. PT−1

  3. Nonuniform concentration body flux per unit volume with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DFLUX.

  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): Sn(S)
  2. PLT−1

  3. Concentration surface flux per unit area into face n.

  1. Load ID (*DFLUX): SnNU(S)
  2. PLT−1

  3. Nonuniform concentration surface flux per unit area into face n with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DFLUX.

Surface-Based Loading

Distributed Loads

Surface-based distributed loads are available for all elements with displacement degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Distributed Loads.

*dsload
  1. Load ID (*DSLOAD): HP(S)
  2. FL−2

  3. Hydrostatic pressure on the element surface, linear in global Z.

  1. Load ID (*DSLOAD): P
  2. FL−2

  3. Pressure on the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*DSLOAD): PNU
  2. FL−2

  3. Nonuniform pressure on the element surface with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DLOAD in Abaqus/Standard and VDLOAD in Abaqus/Explicit.

  1. Load ID (*DSLOAD): SP(E)
  2. FL−4T2

  3. Stagnation pressure on the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*DSLOAD): TRSHR
  2. FL−2

  3. Shear traction on the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*DSLOAD): TRSHRNU(S)
  2. FL−2

  3. Nonuniform shear traction on the element surface with magnitude and direction supplied via user subroutine UTRACLOAD.

  1. Load ID (*DSLOAD): TRVEC
  2. FL−2

  3. General traction on the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*DSLOAD): TRVECNU(S)
  2. FL−2

  3. Nonuniform general traction on the element surface with magnitude and direction supplied via user subroutine UTRACLOAD.

  1. Load ID (*DSLOAD): VP(E)
  2. FL−3T

  3. Viscous pressure applied on the element surface. The viscous pressure is proportional to the velocity normal to the element face and opposing the motion.

Distributed Heat Fluxes

Surface-based heat fluxes are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Thermal Loads.

*dsflux
  1. Load ID (*DSFLUX): S
  2. JL−2T−1

  3. Heat surface flux per unit area into the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*DSFLUX): SNU
  2. JL−2T−1

  3. Nonuniform heat surface flux per unit area into the element surface with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DFLUX in Abaqus/Standard and VDFLUX in Abaqus/Explicit.

Film Conditions

Surface-based film conditions are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Thermal Loads.

*sfilm
  1. Load ID (*SFILM): F
  2. JL−2T−1θ−1

  3. Film coefficient and sink temperature (units of θ) provided on the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*SFILM): FNU(S)
  2. JL−2T−1θ−1

  3. Nonuniform film coefficient and sink temperature (units of θ) provided on the element surface with magnitude supplied via user subroutine FILM.

Radiation Types

Surface-based radiation conditions are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Thermal Loads.

*sradiate
  1. Load ID (*SRADIATE): R
  2. Dimensionless

  3. Emissivity and sink temperature (units of θ) provided on the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*SRADIATE): AVG
  2. Dimensionless

  3. Emissivity provided on the element surface.

Distributed Flows

Surface-based flows are available for all elements with pore pressure degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Pore Fluid Flow.

*sflow
  1. Load ID (*SFLOW): Q(S)
  2. F−1L3T−1

  3. Seepage coefficient and reference sink pore pressure (units of FL−2) provided on the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*SFLOW): QD(S)
  2. F−1L3T−1

  3. Drainage-only seepage coefficient provided on the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*SFLOW): QNU(S)
  2. F−1L3T−1

  3. Nonuniform seepage coefficient and reference sink pore pressure (units of FL−2) provided on the element surface with magnitude supplied via user subroutine FLOW.

*dsflow
  1. Load ID (*DSFLOW): S(S)
  2. LT−1

  3. Prescribed pore fluid effective velocity outward from the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*DSFLOW): SNU(S)
  2. LT−1

  3. Nonuniform prescribed pore fluid effective velocity outward from the element surface with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DFLOW.

Distributed Impedances

Surface-based impedances are available for all elements with acoustic pressure degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Acoustic and Shock Loads.

Incident Wave Loading

Surface-based incident wave loads are available for all elements with displacement degrees of freedom or acoustic pressure degrees of freedom. They are specified as described in Acoustic and Shock Loads. If the incident wave field includes a reflection off a plane outside the boundaries of the mesh, this effect can be included.

Electric Fluxes

Surface-based electric fluxes are available for piezoelectric elements. They are specified as described in Piezoelectric Analysis.

*dsecharge
  1. Load ID (*DSECHARGE): ES(S)
  2. CL−2

  3. Prescribed surface charge on the element surface.

Distributed Electric Current Densities

Surface-based electric current densities are available for coupled thermal-electrical, coupled thermal-electrochemical, coupled thermal-electrical-structural, coupled thermal-electrochemical-structural, and electromagnetic elements. They are specified as described in Coupled Thermal-Electrical Analysis, Coupled Thermal-Electrochemical Analysis, Fully Coupled Thermal-Electrical-Structural Analysis, and Eddy Current Analysis.

Surface-based fluid electric current densities are available for coupled thermal-electrochemical and coupled thermal-electrochemical-structural elements. They are specified as described in Coupled Thermal-Electrochemical Analysis.

*dsecurrent
  1. Load ID (*DSECURRENT): CS(S)
  2. CL−2T−1

  3. Current density on the element surface.

  1. Load ID (*DSECURRENT): CK(S)
  2. CL−1T−1

  3. Surface current density vector in an eddy current analysis.

  1. Load ID (*DSECURRENT): ECS (S)
  2. CL−2T−1

  3. Fluid current density on the element surface.

Element Output

For most elements output is in global directions unless a local coordinate system is assigned to the element through the section definition (Orientations) in which case output is in the local coordinate system (which rotates with the motion in large-displacement analysis). See State storage for details.

Stress, Strain, and Other Tensor Components

Stress and other tensors (including strain tensors) are available for elements with displacement degrees of freedom. All tensors have the same components. For example, the stress components are as follows:

S11

X⁢X, direct stress.

S22

Y⁢Y, direct stress.

S33

Z⁢Z, direct stress.

S12

X⁢Y, shear stress.

S13

X⁢Z, shear stress.

S23

Y⁢Z, shear stress.

Note: the order shown above is not the same as that used in user subroutine VUMAT.

Heat Flux Components

Available for elements with temperature degrees of freedom.

HFL1

Heat flux in the X-direction.

HFL2

Heat flux in the Y-direction.

HFL3

Heat flux in the Z-direction.

Pore Fluid Velocity Components

Available for elements with pore pressure degrees of freedom.

FLVEL1

Pore fluid effective velocity in the X-direction.

FLVEL2

Pore fluid effective velocity in the Y-direction.

FLVEL3

Pore fluid effective velocity in the Z-direction.

Mass Concentration Flux Components

Available for elements with normalized concentration degrees of freedom.

MFL1

Concentration flux in the X-direction.

MFL2

Concentration flux in the Y-direction.

MFL3

Concentration flux in the Z-direction.

Electrical Potential Gradient

Available for elements with electrical potential degrees of freedom.

EPG1

Electrical potential gradient in the X-direction.

EPG2

Electrical potential gradient in the Y-direction.

EPG3

Electrical potential gradient in the Z-direction.

Electrical Flux Components

Available for piezoelectric elements.

EFLX1

Electrical flux in the X-direction.

EFLX2

Electrical flux in the Y-direction.

EFLX3

Electrical flux in the Z-direction.

Electrical Current Density Components

Available for coupled thermal-electrical and coupled thermal-electrical-structural elements.

ECD1

Electrical current density in the X-direction.

ECD2

Electrical current density in the Y-direction.

ECD3

Electrical current density in the Z-direction.

Electrical Field Components

Available for electromagnetic elements in an eddy current analysis.

EME1

Electric field in the X-direction.

EME2

Electric field in the Y-direction.

EME3

Electric field in the Z-direction.

Magnetic Flux Density Components

Available for electromagnetic elements.

EMB1

Magnetic flux density in the X-direction.

EMB2

Magnetic flux density in the Y-direction.

EMB3

Magnetic flux density in the Z-direction.

Magnetic Field Components

Available for electromagnetic elements.

EMH1

Magnetic field in the X-direction.

EMH2

Magnetic field in the Y-direction.

EMH3

Magnetic field in the Z-direction.

Eddy Current Density Components in an Eddy Current Analysis

Available for electromagnetic elements in an eddy current analysis.

EMCD1

Eddy current density in the X-direction.

EMCD2

Eddy current density in the Y-direction.

EMCD3

Eddy current density in the Z-direction.

Applied Volume Current Density Components in an Eddy Current or Magnetostatic Analysis

Available for electromagnetic elements in an eddy current or magnetostatic analysis.

EMCDA1

Applied volume current density in the X-direction.

EMCDA2

Applied volume current density in the Y-direction.

EMCDA3

Applied volume current density in the Z-direction.

Node Ordering and Face Numbering on Elements

All Elements Except Variable Node Elements



Table 1. Tetrahedral element faces
Face 1 1 – 2 – 3 face
Face 2 1 – 4 – 2 face
Face 3 2 – 4 – 3 face
Face 4 3 – 4 – 1 face
Table 2. Pyramid element faces
Face 1 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 face
Face 2 1 – 5 – 2 face
Face 3 2 – 5 – 3 face
Face 4 3 – 5 – 4 face
Face 5 4 – 5 – 1 face
Table 3. Wedge (triangular prism) element faces
Face 1 1 – 2 – 3 face
Face 2 4 – 6 – 5 face
Face 3 1 – 4 – 5 – 2 face
Face 4 2 – 5 – 6 – 3 face
Face 5 3 – 6 – 4 – 1 face
Table 4. Hexahedron (brick) element faces
Face 1 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 face
Face 2 5 – 8 – 7 – 6 face
Face 3 1 – 5 – 6 – 2 face
Face 4 2 – 6 – 7 – 3 face
Face 5 3 – 7 – 8 – 4 face
Face 6 4 – 8 – 5 – 1 face

Variable Node Elements



⊗ 16–18 are midface nodes on the three rectangular faces (see below for faces 1 to 5). These ⊗ nodes can be omitted from an element by entering a zero or blank in the corresponding position when giving the nodes on the element. Only nodes 16–18 can be omitted.

Table 5. Face location of nodes 16 to 18
Face node number Corner nodes on face
16 1 – 4 – 5 – 2
17 2 – 5 – 6 – 3
18 3 – 6 – 4 – 1



Node 21 is located at the centroid of the element.

⊗ (nodes 22–27) are midface nodes on the six faces (see below for faces 1 to 6). These ⊗ nodes can be deleted from an element by entering a zero or blank in the corresponding position when giving the nodes on the element. Only nodes 22–27 can be omitted.

Table 6. Face location of nodes 22 to 27
Face node number Corner nodes on face
22 1 – 2 – 3 – 4
23 5 – 8 – 7 – 6
24 1 – 5 – 6 – 2
25 2 – 6 – 7 – 3
26 3 – 7 – 8 – 4
27 4 – 8 – 5 – 1

Numbering of Integration Points for Output

All Elements Except Variable Node Elements



This shows the scheme in the layer closest to the 1–2–3 and 1–2–3–4 faces. The integration points in the second and third layers are numbered consecutively. Multiple layers are used for composite solid elements.

For heat transfer applications a different integration scheme is used for tetrahedral and wedge elements, as described in Triangular, tetrahedral, and wedge elements.

For linear triangular prisms in Abaqus/Explicit reduced integration is used; therefore, a C3D6 element and a C3D6T element have only one integration point.

For the linear bricks C3D8S and C3D8HS in Abaqus/Standard improved stress visualization is obtained through a 27-point integration rule, consisting of 8 integration points at the elements' nodes, 12 integration points on the elements' edges, 6 integration points on the elements' sides, and one integration point inside the element.

For the general-purpose C3D10HS 10-node tetrahedra in Abaqus/Standard improved stress visualization is obtained through an 11-point integration rule, consisting of 10 integration points at the elements' nodes and one integration point at their centroid.

For acoustic tetrahedra, pyramid, and wedges in Abaqus/Standard full integration is used; therefore, an AC3D4 element has 4 integration points, an AC3D5 element has 5 integration points, an AC3D6 element has 6 integration points, an AC3D10 element has 15 integration points, and an AC3D15 element has 18 integration points.

Variable Node Elements



This shows the scheme in the layer closest to the 1–2–3 and 1–2–3–4 faces. The integration points in the second and third layers are numbered consecutively. Multiple layers are used for composite solid elements. The face nodes do not appear.



Node 21 is located at the centroid of the element.