Distributing Coupling Element Library

This section provides a reference to the distributing coupling elements available in Abaqus/Standard.

This page discusses:

Element Types
Nodal Coordinates Required
Element Property Definition
Element-Based Loading
Element Output
Nodes Associated with the Element

Element Types

DCOUP2D: Two-dimensional distributing coupling element
DCOUP3D: Three-dimensional distributing coupling element

Active Degrees of Freedom

DCOUP2D: 1, 2, 6

DCOUP3D: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Additional Solution Variables

None.

Nodal Coordinates Required

DCOUP2D: X, Y

DCOUP3D: X, Y, Z

Element Property Definition

You must identify a minimum of two nodes to which the distributing coupling element distributes loads and mass; in addition, you can specify the element mass.

Element-Based Loading

None.

Element Output

ELKE: Element kinetic energy.
NFORC: Element nodal forces.

Nodes Associated with the Element

1 node is defined with the element. Additional nodes forming the coupling are defined in the element property definition.