1.1.

Types of Structural Analysis

You can perform the following types of structural analyses:

Static Analysis -- Used to determine displacements, stresses,

etc. under static loading conditions. Both linear and nonlinear
static analyses. Nonlinearities can include plasticity, stress
stiffening, large deflection, large strain, hyperelasticity, contact
surfaces, and creep.

Modal Analysis -- Used to calculate the natural frequencies and

mode shapes of a structure. Several mode-extraction methods
are available.

Harmonic Analysis -- Used to determine the response of a

structure to harmonically time-varying loads.

Transient Dynamic Analysis -- Used to determine the response of

a structure to arbitrarily time-varying loads. All nonlinearities
mentioned under Static Analysis above are allowed.

Spectrum Analysis -- An extension of the modal analysis, used to

calculate stresses and strains due to a response spectrum or a
PSD input (random vibrations).

Buckling Analysis -- Used to calculate the buckling loads and

determine the buckling mode shape. Both linear (eigenvalue)
buckling and nonlinear buckling analyses are possible.

Explicit Dynamic Analysis -- This type of structural analysis is

available via the ANSYS LS-DYNA product, which provides an
interface to the LS-DYNA explicit finite element program. Explicit
dynamic analysis calculates fast solutions for large deformation
dynamics and complex contact problems.

Several special-purpose structural analysis capabilities are available:

Fracture mechanics

Composites

Fatigue

Beam analyses and cross sections.

The primary unknowns (nodal degrees of freedom) calculated in a

structural analysis are displacements. Other quantities such as strains,
stresses, and reaction forces are then derived from the nodal
displacements.
Structural analyses are available in the ANSYS Multiphysics, ANSYS
Mechanical, ANSYS Structural, and ANSYS Professional products only.

2.3. Selecting Elements for Your Analysis

Use this list of elements sorted by application to select the best elements
for your analysis. Primary applications are as follows:
Structural

Contact

Explicit Dynamics

Combination

Thermal

Matrix

Acoustic

Infinite

Diffusion

Load

Fluid

Meshing

Magnetic Electric

Reinforcing

Electric Circuit

User-Defined

Coupled-Field
Within each element category, the elements appear in order of shape
function (topology). Current-technology elements take precedence.

Structural
Type

Dimension

Structural
Solid

3-D

Element
SOLID185 8-Node Structural
Solid

Pictorial

SOLID186 20-Node Structural

Solid
SOLID187 10-Node
Tetrahedral Structural Solid
SOLID285 4-Node Tetrahedral
Structural Solid with Nodal
Pressures
SOLID65 8-Node Reinforced
Concrete Structural Solid
2-D

PLANE182 4-Node Structural

Solid
PLANE183 8-Node Structural
Solid
PLANE25 4-Node
Axisymmetric-Harmonic
Structural Solid
PLANE83 8-Node
Axisymmetric-Harmonic
Structural Solid

General
Axisymmetric

SOLID272 4- to 48-Node
General Axisymmetric Solid

SOLID273 8- to 96-Node
General Axisymmetric Solid

Structural
Solid
Shell

3-D

SOLSH190 8-Node Structural

Solid Shell

Structural
Shell

3-D

SHELL181 4-Node Structural

Shell
SHELL281 8-Node Structural
Shell

SHELL28 4-Node Structural

Shear/Twist Panel
SHELL41 4-Node Structural
Membrane Shell
2-D

SHELL208 2-Node
Axisymmetric Shell
SHELL209 3-Node
Axisymmetric Shell
SHELL61 2-Node
Axisymmetric-Harmonic
Structural Shell

Structural
Layered
Composit
e

3-D

SOLID185 8-Node Layered

Solid
SOLID186 20-Node Layered
Structural Solid
SOLSH190 8-Node Solid Shell

The following elements can also be used for layered

applications: SHELL181, SHELL208, SHELL209, SHELL281, ELBOW29
0
Structural
Beam

3-D

BEAM188 2-Node Structural

Beam
BEAM189 3-Node Structural
Beam

Structural
Pipe

3-D

PIPE288 2-Node Pipe

PIPE289 3-Node Pipe
ELBOW290 3-Node Elbow

Structural
Line

3-D

LINK180 2-Node Structural 3D Spar (or Truss)

LINK11 2-Node Structural
Linear Actuator

Structural
Point

3-D

MASS21 1-Node Structural

Mass

Structural
Interface

3-D

INTER194 Interface 16-Node

Gasket
INTER195 Interface 8-Node
Gasket
INTER204 Interface 16-Node
Cohesive
INTER205 Interface 8-Node
Cohesive

2-D

INTER192 Interface 4-Node

Gasket
INTER193 Interface 6-Node
Gasket
INTER202 Interface 4-Node
Cohesive
INTER203 Interface 6-Node
Cohesive

Structural
Multipoin
t
Constraint

3-D

MPC184
MPC184-Link/Beam
MPC184-Slider
MPC184-Revolute
MPC184-Universal
MPC184-Slot
MPC184-Point
MPC184Translational
MPC184Cylindrical

MPC184-Planar
MPC184-Weld
MPC184-Orient
MPC184-Spherical
MPC184-General
MPC184-Screw

Explicit Dynamics (Explicit dynamics analyses can use only explicit dynamic
elements.)
Type
Explicit
Solid

Dimension
3-D

Element
SOLID164 8-Node Explicit
Structural Solid
SOLID16810-Node Explicit
Tetrahedral Structural Solid

2-D

PLANE162 4-Node Explicit

Solid

Explicit
Shell

3-D

SHELL163 4-Node Explicit

Thin Structural Shell

Explicit
Beam

3-D

BEAM161 3-Node Explicit

Beam

Explicit
Line

3-D

LINK160 3-Node Explicit Spar

(or Truss)
LINK167 3-Node Explicit
Tension-Only Spar
COMBI165 2-Node Explicit
Spring-Damper

Explicit
Point

3-D

MASS166 1-Node Explicit

Structural Mass

Pictorial

Thermal
Type
Thermal
Solid

Dimension
3-D

Element
SOLID278 8-Node Thermal
Solid
SOLID279 20-Node Thermal
Solid
SOLID70 8-Node Thermal
Solid
SOLID87 10-Node Tetrahedral
Thermal Solid
SOLID90 20-Node Thermal
Solid

2-D

PLANE35 6-Node Triangular

Thermal Solid
PLANE55 4-Node Thermal
Solid
PLANE75 4-Node
Axisymmetric-Harmonic
Thermal Solid
PLANE77 8-Node Thermal
Solid
PLANE78 4-Node
Axisymmetric-Harmonic
Thermal Solid

Thermal
Layered
Solid

3-D

SOLID278 8-Node Thermal

Solid
SOLID279 20-Node Thermal
Solid

Pictorial

Thermal
Shell

3-D

SHELL131 4-Node Thermal

Shell
SHELL132 8-Node Thermal
Shell

Thermal
Line

3-D

LINK31 2-Node Radiation

Link
LINK33 2-Node Thermal
Conduction Bar
LINK34 2-Node Convection
Link

Thermal
Point

3-D

MASS71 1-Node Thermal

Mass

Thermal
Electric

3-D

LINK68 2-Node Coupled

Thermal-Electric Line
SHELL157 4-Node ThermalElectric Shell

Acoustic
Type
Acoustic
Volume

Dimension
3-D

Element
FLUID30 8-Node Acoustic
Fluid
FLUID220 20-Node Acoustic
Fluid
FLUID221 10-Node Acoustic
Fluid

2-D

FLUID29 4-Node Acoustic

Fluid

Acoustic
Planar

3-D

FLUID130 4-Node Infinite

Acoustic

Acoustic
Line

2-D

FLUID129 2-Node Infinite

Acoustic

Pictorial

Diffusion
Type

Dimension

Element

Diffusion 2-D
Solid

PLANE238 8-Node Diffusion

Solid

3-D

SOLID239 20-Node Diffusion

Solid

Pictorial

SOLID240
10-Node Tetrahedral Diffusion
Solid

Fluid
Type
Fluid
Volume

Fluid Gap

Dimension

Element

3-D

HSFLD242 9-Node
Hydrostatic Fluid

2-D

HSFLD241 4-Node
Hydrostatic Fluid

3-D

FLUID38 2-Node Dynamic

Fluid Coupling
FLUID136 4- or 8-Node
Squeeze Film Fluid
FLUID138 2-Node Viscous
Fluid Link
FLUID139 2- or 32-Node Slide
Film Fluid

Fluid Pipe

3-D

Magnetic Electric

FLUID116 2-Node Coupled

Thermal-Fluid Pipe

Pictorial

Type

Dimension

---

3-D

Element

Pictorial

SOLID96 8-Node Magnetic

Scalar Solid
SOLID97 8-Node Magnetic
Solid
SOLID122 20-Node
Electrostatic Solid
SOLID123 10-Node
Tetrahedral Electrostatic Solid
SOLID231 20-Node Electric
Solid
SOLID232 10-Node
Tetrahedral Electric Solid
SOLID236 20-Node
Electromagnetic Solid
SOLID237 10-Node
Electromagnetic Solid

2-D

PLANE53 8-Node Magnetic

Solid
PLANE121 8-Node
Electrostatic Solid
PLANE230 8-Node Electric
Solid
PLANE233 8-Node
Electromagnetic Solid

Electric Circuit
Type

Dimension

Element

Pictorial

---

3-D

SOURC36 3-Node Magnetic

Electric Current Source
CIRCU124 2- to 6-Node
Magnetic Electric Circuit
CIRCU125 2-Node Magnetic
Electric Diode

2-D

CIRCU94 2- or 3-Node
Coupled-Field Piezoelectric
Circuit

Coupled-Field
Type

Dimension

---

3-D

Element
SOLID226 20-Node CoupledField Solid
SOLID227 10-Node CoupledField Solid
SOLID5 8-Node Coupled-Field
Solid
LINK68 2-Node-Coupled
Thermal-Electric Line
SOLID98 10-Node Tetrahedral
Coupled-Field Solid
ROM144 20- or 30-Node
Reduced-Order ElectrostaticStructural Coupled-Field
SHELL157 4-Node ThermalElectric Shell
CPT215 8-Node Coupled PorePressure Mechanical Solid
CPT216 20-Node Coupled
Pore-Pressure Mechanical
Solid

Pictorial

CPT217 10-Node Coupled

Pore-Pressure Mechanical
Solid
2-D

PLANE223 8-Node CoupledField Solid

PLANE13 4-Node CoupledField Solid
CPT212 4-Node Coupled PorePressure Mechanical Solid
CPT213 8-Node Coupled PorePressure Mechanical Solid

Contact
Type

Dimension

Element

---

3-D

TARGE170 8-Node Contact 3D Target Segment

CONTA173 4-Node Surfaceto-Surface Contact
CONTA174 8-Node Surfaceto-Surface Contact
CONTA176 3-Node Line-toLine Contact
CONTA177 3-Node Line-toSurface Contact
CONTA178 2-Node Node-toNode Contact

2-D/3-D

CONTA175 1-Node Node-toSurface Contact

2-D

TARGE169 3-Node Contact 2D Target Segment

CONTA171 2-Node Surfaceto-Surface Contact

Pictorial

CONTA172 3-Node Surfaceto-Surface Contact

Combination
Type

Dimension

---

3-D

Element

Pictorial

COMBIN14 2-Node
Combination Spring-Damper
COMBIN37 4-Node
Combination Control
COMBIN39 2-Node
Combination Nonlinear Spring
COMBIN40 2-Node
Combination

2-D/3-D

PRETS179 3-Node Pretension

Combination

2-D

COMBI214 2-Node
Combination Spring-Damper
Bearing

Matrix
Type

Dimension

Element

---

3-D

MATRIX27 2-Node Stiffness,

Damping, or Mass Matrix

2-D/3-D

MATRIX50 Superelement (or

Substructure)

Pictorial

Infinite
Type

Dimension

Element

Pictorial

---

3-D

INFIN47 4-Node Infinite

Boundary
INFIN111 8- or 20-Node
Infinite Solid

2-D

INFIN9 2-Node Infinite

Boundary
INFIN110 4- or 8-Node Infinite
Solid

Load
Type

Dimension

---

3-D

Element
SURF152 4- to 10-Node
Thermal Surface Effect
SURF154 4- to 8-Node
Structural Surface Effect
SURF156 3- or 4-Node
Structural Surface Line Load
SURF159 2- to 36-Node
General Axisymmetric Surface

FOLLW201 1-Node Follower

Load
SURF252 3- or 4-Node
Thermal Radiosity Surface
2-D

SURF151 2- or 4-Node
Thermal Surface Effect
SURF153 2- or 3-Node
Structural Surface Effect
SURF251 2-Node Radiosity
Surface

Meshing

Pictorial

Type

Dimension

---

2-D/3-D

Element

Pictorial

MESH200 2- to 20-Node
Meshing Facet

Reinforcing
Type

Dimension

---

3-D

Element

Pictorial

REINF264 2- to 20-Node
Discrete Reinforcing
REINF265 2- to 20-Node
Smeared Reinforcing

2-D

REINF263 2- to 8-Node
Smeared Reinforcing

User-Defined
Type

Dimension

---

---

Element
USER300

Pictorial
---