*PRE-TENSION SECTION

Required parameters

NODE: Set this parameter equal to either the pre-tension node number or the name of a node set containing the pre-tension node. If the name of a node set is chosen, the node set must contain exactly one node.

Required, mutually exclusive parameters

ELEMENT: Set this parameter equal to either the element number of the truss or beam element used to define the pre-tension section or the name of an element set containing the truss or beam element used to define the pre-tension section. If the name of an element set is chosen, the element set must contain exactly one element.
SURFACE: Set this parameter equal to the name of the surface definition (SURFACE) that defines the pre-tension section (when continuum elements are used).

Optional parameters

FOLLOWER: Omit this parameter or set FOLLOWER=NO to indicate that the normal of the pre-tension section is fixed during the analysis.
Include this parameter or set FOLLOWER=YES to indicate that the normal of the pre-tension section is updated when performing large-displacement analysis.

Data line to define the normal to the section (optional)

First (and only) data line

First component of the normal.
Second component of the normal.
Third component of the normal.

If the data line is omitted, Abaqus/Standard will compute an average normal to the pre-tension section for continuum elements. For truss or beam elements the default normal points from the first to the last node in the element connectivity.