"Solid (Continuum) Elements," Section 25.1.1

25.1.
3 Two-dimensional solid element library Page 1 of 26
25.1.3 Two-dimensional solid element library
Products: Abaqus/Standard Abaqus/Explicit Abaqus/CAE
References
z “Solid (continuum) elements,” Section 25.1.1
z *SOLID SECTION
Element types
Plane strain elements
CPE3 3-node linear

CPE3H(S) 3-node linear, hybrid with constant pressure
CPE4(S) 4-node bilinear
CPE4H(S) 4-node bilinear, hybrid with constant pressure
CPE4I(S) 4-node bilinear, incompatible modes
CPE4IH(S) 4-node bilinear, incompatible modes, hybrid with linear

pressure
CPE4R 4-node bilinear, reduced integration with hourglass control
CPE4RH(S) 4-node bilinear, reduced integration with hourglass
control, hybrid with constant pressure
CPE6(S) 6-node quadratic
CPE6H(S) 6-node quadratic, hybrid with linear pressure

CPE6M 6-node modified, with hourglass control
CPE6MH(S) 6-node modified, with hourglass control, hybrid with
linear pressure
CPE8(S) 8-node biquadratic
CPE8H(S) 8-node biquadratic, hybrid with linear pressure
CPE8R(S) 8-node biquadratic, reduced integration
CPE8RH(S) 8-node biquadratic, reduced integration, hybrid with linear

pressure
Active degrees of freedom
1, 2
http://210kim:2080/v6.9ef/books/usb/pt06ch25s01ael02.html 3/15/2010
25.1.3 Two-dimensional solid element library Page 2 of 26
Additional solution variables
The constant pressure hybrid elements have one additional variable relating to pressure, and the linear
pressure hybrid elements have three additional variables relating to pressure.
Element types CPE4I and CPE4IH have five additional variables relating to the incompatible modes.
Element types CPE6M and CPE6MH have two additional displacement variables.
Plane stress elements
CPS3 3-node linear

CPS4(S) 4-node bilinear
CPS4I(S) 4-node bilinear, incompatible modes

CPS4R 4-node bilinear, reduced integration with hourglass control
CPS6(S) 6-node quadratic
CPS6M 6-node modified, with hourglass control
CPS8(S) 8-node biquadratic
CPS8R(S) 8-node biquadratic, reduced integration
1, 2
Element type CPS4I has four additional variables relating to the incompatible modes.
Element type CPS6M has two additional displacement variables.
Generalized plane strain elements
CPEG3(S) 3-node linear triangle
CPEG3H(S) 3-node linear triangle, hybrid with constant pressure
CPEG4(S) 4-node bilinear quadrilateral
CPEG4H(S) 4-node bilinear quadrilateral, hybrid with constant

pressure
CPEG4I(S) 4-node bilinear quadrilateral, incompatible modes
CPEG4IH(S) 4-node bilinear quadrilateral, incompatible modes, hybrid

with linear pressure
CPEG4R(S) 4-node bilinear quadrilateral, reduced integration with
hourglass control
CPEG4RH(S) 4-node bilinear quadrilateral, reduced integration with
hourglass control, hybrid with constant pressure
CPEG6(S) 6-node quadratic triangle
CPEG6H(S) 6-node quadratic triangle, hybrid with linear pressure
CPEG6M(S) 6-node modified, with hourglass control
CPEG6MH(S) 6-node modified, with hourglass control, hybrid with

linear pressure
CPEG8(S) 8-node biquadratic quadrilateral
CPEG8H(S) 8-node biquadratic quadrilateral, hybrid with linear

pressure
CPEG8R(S) 8-node biquadratic quadrilateral, reduced integration
CPEG8RH(S) 8-node biquadratic quadrilateral, reduced integration,

hybrid with linear pressure
1, 2 at all but the reference node
3, 4, 5 at the reference node
Element types CPEG4I and CPEG4IH have five additional variables relating to the incompatible
modes.
Element types CPEG6M and CPEG6MH have two additional displacement variables.
Coupled temperature-displacement plane strain elements
CPE3T 3-node linear displacement and temperature

CPE4T(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature
CPE4HT(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature, hybrid with

constant pressure
CPE4RT 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature, reduced
integration with hourglass control
CPE4RHT(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature, reduced
integration with hourglass control, hybrid with constant
pressure
CPE6MT 6-node modified displacement and temperature, with

hourglass control
CPE6MHT(S) 6-node modified displacement and temperature, with
CPE8T(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature
CPE8HT(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature,

CPE8RT(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature,
reduced integration
CPE8RHT(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature,
reduced integration, hybrid with linear pressure
1, 2, 11 at corner nodes
1, 2 at midside nodes of second-order elements in Abaqus/Standard
1, 2, 11 at midside nodes of modified displacement and temperature elements in Abaqus/Standard
Element types CPE6MT and CPE6MHT have two additional displacement variables and one additional
temperature variable.
Coupled temperature-displacement plane stress elements
CPS3T 3-node linear displacement and temperature

CPS4T(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature
CPS4RT 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature, reduced
CPS6MT 6-node modified displacement and temperature, with
hourglass control
CPS8T(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature
CPS8RT(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature,

reduced integration
1, 2 at midside nodes of second-order elements in Abaqus/Standard
1, 2, 11 at midside nodes of modified displacement and temperature elements in Abaqus/Standard
Element type CPS6MT has two additional displacement variables and one additional temperature
variable.
Coupled temperature-displacement generalized plane strain elements
CPEG3T(S) 3-node linear displacement and temperature
CPEG3HT(S) 3-node linear displacement and temperature, hybrid with

constant pressure
CPEG4T(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature
CPEG4HT(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature, hybrid with

constant pressure
CPEG4RT(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature, reduced
CPEG4RHT(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature, reduced
pressure
CPEG6MT(S) 6-node modified displacement and temperature, with
hourglass control
CPEG6MHT(S) 6-node modified displacement and temperature, with
CPEG8T(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature
CPEG8HT(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature,

CPEG8RHT(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature,
reduced integration, hybrid with linear pressure
1, 2 at midside nodes of second-order elements
1, 2, 11 at midside nodes of modified displacement and temperature elements
3, 4, 5 at the reference node
Element types CPEG6MT and CPEG6MHT have two additional displacement variables and one
additional temperature variable.
Diffusive heat transfer or mass diffusion elements
DC2D3(S) 3-node linear
DC2D4(S) 4-node linear
DC2D6(S) 6-node quadratic
DC2D8(S) 8-node biquadratic
Active degree of freedom
11
None.
Forced convection/diffusion elements
DCC2D4(S) 4-node
DCC2D4D(S) 4-node with dispersion control
11
None.
Coupled thermal-electrical elements
DC2D3E(S) 3-node linear
DC2D4E(S) 4-node linear
DC2D6E(S) 6-node quadratic
DC2D8E(S) 8-node biquadratic
9, 11
None.
Pore pressure plane strain elements
CPE4P(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and pore pressure
CPE4PH(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and pore pressure, hybrid

with constant pressure stress
CPE4RP(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and pore pressure, reduced
CPE4RPH(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and pore pressure, reduced
pressure
CPE6MP(S) 6-node modified displacement and pore pressure, with
hourglass control
CPE6MPH(S) 6-node modified displacement and pore pressure, with
hourglass control, hybrid with linear pressure
CPE8P(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear pore pressure
CPE8PH(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear pore pressure,

hybrid with linear pressure stress
CPE8RP(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear pore pressure,
reduced integration
CPE8RPH(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear pore pressure,
reduced integration, hybrid with linear pressure stress
1, 2 at midside nodes for all elements except CPE6MP and CPE6MPH, which also have degree of
freedom 8 active at midside nodes
The constant pressure hybrid elements have one additional variable relating to the effective pressure
stress, and the linear pressure hybrid elements have three additional variables relating to the effective
pressure stress to permit fully incompressible material modeling.
Element types CPE6MP and CPE6MPH have two additional displacement variables and one additional
pore pressure variable.
Acoustic elements
AC2D3 3-node linear

AC2D4(S) 4-node bilinear
AC2D4R(E) 4-node bilinear, reduced integration with hourglass control
AC2D6(S) 6-node quadratic
AC2D8(S) 8-node biquadratic
None.
Piezoelectric plane strain elements
CPE3E(S) 3-node linear
CPE4E(S) 4-node bilinear
CPE6E(S) 6-node quadratic
CPE8E(S) 8-node biquadratic
CPE8RE(S) 8-node biquadratic, reduced integration
1, 2, 9
None.
Piezoelectric plane stress elements
CPS3E(S) 3-node linear
CPS4E(S) 4-node bilinear
CPS6E(S) 6-node quadratic
CPS8E(S) 8-node biquadratic
CPS8RE(S) 8-node biquadratic, reduced integration
1, 2, 9
None.
Nodal coordinates required
X, Y
Element property definition
For all elements except generalized plane strain elements, you must provide the element thickness; by
default, unit thickness is assumed.
For generalized plane strain elements, you must provide three values: the initial length of the axial
material fiber through the reference node, the initial value of (in radians), and the initial value of
(in radians). If you do not provide these values, Abaqus assumes the default values of one unit as
the initial length and zero for and . In addition, you must define the reference point for
generalized plane strain elements.
Input File Usage: Use the following option to define the element properties for all elements
except generalized plane strain elements:
*SOLID SECTION
Use the following option to define the element properties for generalized plane
strain elements:
*SOLID SECTION, REF NODE=node number or node set name
Abaqus/CAE Usage: Property module: Create Section: select Solid as the section Category and
Homogeneous or Generalized plane strain as the section Type
Generalized plane strain sections must be assigned to regions of parts that have
a reference point associated with them. To define the reference point:
Part module: Tools Reference Point: select reference point
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,” Section 30.4.3.
Load ID (*DLOAD): BX
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Body force
Units: FL–3
Description: Body force in global X-direction.
Load ID (*DLOAD): BY
Units: FL–3
Description: Body force in global Y-direction.
Load ID (*DLOAD): BXNU
Units: FL–3
Description: Nonuniform body force in global X-direction with magnitude supplied via user
subroutine DLOAD in Abaqus/Standard and VDLOAD in Abaqus/Explicit.
Load ID (*DLOAD): BYNU
Units: FL–3
Description: Nonuniform body force in global Y-direction with magnitude supplied via user
subroutine DLOAD in Abaqus/Standard and VDLOAD in Abaqus/Explicit.
Load ID (*DLOAD): CENT(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Not supported
Units: FL–4(ML–3T–2)
Description: Centrifugal load (magnitude is input as , where is the mass density per unit
volume, is the angular velocity). Not available for pore pressure elements.
Load ID (*DLOAD): CENTRIF(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Rotational body force
Units: T–2
Description: Centrifugal load (magnitude is input as , where is the angular velocity).
Load ID (*DLOAD): CORIO(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Coriolis force
Units: FL–4T (ML–3T–1)
Description: Coriolis force (magnitude is input as , where is the mass density per unit volume,
is the angular velocity). Not available for pore pressure elements.
Load ID (*DLOAD): GRAV
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Gravity
Units: LT–2
Description: Gravity loading in a specified direction (magnitude is input as acceleration).
Load ID (*DLOAD): HPn(S)
Units: FL–2
Description: Hydrostatic pressure on face n, linear in global Y.
Load ID (*DLOAD): Pn
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Pressure
Units: FL–2
Description: Pressure on face n.
Load ID (*DLOAD): PnNU
Units: FL–2
Description: Nonuniform pressure on face n with magnitude supplied via user subroutine DLOAD in
Abaqus/Standard and VDLOAD in Abaqus/Explicit.
Load ID (*DLOAD): ROTA(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Rotational body force
Units: T–2
Description: Rotary acceleration load (magnitude is input as , where is the rotary acceleration).
Load ID (*DLOAD): SBF(E)
Units: FL–5T2
Description: Stagnation body force in global X- and Y-directions.
Load ID (*DLOAD): SPn(E)
Units: FL–4T2
Description: Stagnation pressure on face n.
Load ID (*DLOAD): TRSHRn
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface traction
Units: FL–2
Description: Shear traction on face n.
Load ID (*DLOAD): TRSHRnNU(S)
Units: FL–2
Description: Nonuniform shear traction on face n with magnitude and direction supplied via user
subroutine UTRACLOAD.
Load ID (*DLOAD): TRVECn
Units: FL–2
Description: General traction on face n.
Load ID (*DLOAD): TRVECnNU(S)
Units: FL–2
Description: Nonuniform general traction on face n with magnitude and direction supplied via user
subroutine UTRACLOAD.
Load ID (*DLOAD): VBF(E)
Units: FL–4T
Description: Viscous body force in global X- and Y-directions.
Load ID (*DLOAD): VPn(E)
Units: FL–3T
Description: 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,” Section 2.2.2.
Load ID (*FOUNDATION): Fn(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Elastic foundation
Units: FL–3
Description: 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,” Section 30.4.4.
Load ID (*DFLUX): BF
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Body heat flux
Units: JL–3T–1
Description: Heat body flux per unit volume.
Load ID (*DFLUX): BFNU(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Body heat flux
Units: JL–3T–1
Description: Nonuniform heat body flux per unit volume with magnitude supplied via user subroutine
DFLUX.
Load ID (*DFLUX): Sn
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface heat flux
Units: JL–2T–1
Description: Heat surface flux per unit area into face n.
Load ID (*DFLUX): SnNU(S)
Units: JL–2T–1
Description: Nonuniform heat surface flux per unit area into face n with magnitude supplied via user
subroutine DFLUX.
Film conditions
Film conditions are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They are specified
as described in “Thermal loads,” Section 30.4.4.
Load ID (*FILM): Fn
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface film condition
Units: JL–2T–1 –1
Description: Film coefficient and sink temperature (units of ) provided on face n.
Load ID (*FILM): FnNU(S)
Description: Nonuniform film coefficient and sink temperature (units of ) provided on face n with
magnitude supplied via user subroutine FILM.
Radiation types
Radiation conditions are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They are
Load ID (*RADIATE): Rn
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface radiation
Units: Dimensionless
Description: Emissivity and sink temperature (units of ) provided on face n.
Distributed flows
Distributed flows are available for all elements with pore pressure degrees of freedom. They are
specified as described in “Pore fluid flow,” Section 30.4.6.
Load ID (*FLOW/ *DFLOW): Qn(S)
Units: F–1L3T–1
Description: Seepage (outward normal flow) proportional to the difference between surface pore
pressures and a reference sink pore pressure on face n (units of FL–2).
Load ID (*FLOW/ *DFLOW): QnD(S)
Units: F–1L3T–1
Description: Drainage-only seepage (outward normal flow) proportional to the surface pore pressure
on face n only when that pressure is positive.
Load ID (*FLOW/ *DFLOW): QnNU(S)
Units: F–1L3T–1
Description: Nonuniform seepage (outward normal flow) proportional to the difference between
surface pore pressures and a reference sink pore pressure on face n (units of FL–2) with magnitude
supplied via user subroutine FLOW.
Load ID (*FLOW/ *DFLOW): Sn(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface pore fluid
Units: LT–1
Description: Prescribed pore fluid effective velocity (outward from the face) on face n.
Load ID (*FLOW/ *DFLOW): SnNU(S)
Units: LT–1
Description: 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,” Section 30.4.5.
Load ID (*IMPEDANCE): In
Units: None
Description: 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,” Section 6.6.3.
Load ID (*DECHARGE): EBF(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Body charge
Units: CL–3
Description: Body flux per unit volume.
Load ID (*DECHARGE): ESn(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface charge
Units: CL–2
Description: Prescribed surface charge on face n.
Distributed electric current densities
Distributed electric current densities are available for coupled thermal-electrical elements. They are
specified as described in “Coupled thermal-electrical analysis,” Section 6.6.2.
Load ID (*DECURRENT): CBF(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Body current
Units: CL–3T–1
Description: Volumetric current source density.
Load ID (*DECURRENT): CSn(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface current
Units: CL–2T–1
Description: Current density on face n.
Distributed concentration fluxes
Distributed concentration fluxes are available for mass diffusion elements. They are specified as
described in “Mass diffusion analysis,” Section 6.8.1.
Load ID (*DFLUX): BF(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Body concentration flux
Units: PT–1
Description: Concentration body flux per unit volume.
Load ID (*DFLUX): BFNU(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Body concentration flux
Units: PT–1
Description: Nonuniform concentration body flux per unit volume with magnitude supplied via user
subroutine DFLUX.
Load ID (*DFLUX): Sn(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface concentration flux
Units: PLT–1
Description: Concentration surface flux per unit area into face n.
Load ID (*DFLUX): SnNU(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface concentration flux
Units: PLT–1
Description: 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,” Section 30.4.3.
Load ID (*DSLOAD): HP(S)
Units: FL–2
Description: Hydrostatic pressure on the element surface, linear in global Y.
Load ID (*DSLOAD): P
Units: FL–2
Description: Pressure on the element surface.
Load ID (*DSLOAD): PNU
Units: FL–2
Description: Nonuniform pressure on the element surface with magnitude supplied via user subroutine
DLOAD in Abaqus/Standard and VDLOAD in Abaqus/Explicit.
Load ID (*DSLOAD): SP(E)
Units: FL–4T2
Description: Stagnation pressure on the element surface.
Load ID (*DSLOAD): TRSHR
Units: FL–2
Description: Shear traction on the element surface.
Load ID (*DSLOAD): TRSHRNU(S)
Units: FL–2
Description: Nonuniform shear traction on the element surface with magnitude and direction supplied
via user subroutine UTRACLOAD.
Load ID (*DSLOAD): TRVEC
Units: FL–2
Description: General traction on the element surface.
Load ID (*DSLOAD): TRVECNU(S)
Units: FL–2
Description: Nonuniform general traction on the element surface with magnitude and direction
supplied via user subroutine UTRACLOAD.
Load ID (*DSLOAD): VP(E)
Units: FL–3T
Description: Viscous pressure on the element surface. The viscous pressure is proportional to the
velocity normal to the element surface and opposing the motion.
Distributed heat fluxes
Surface-based heat fluxes are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They are
Load ID (*DSFLUX): S
Units: JL–2T–1
Description: Heat surface flux per unit area into the element surface.
Load ID (*DSFLUX): SNU(S)
Units: JL–2T–1
Description: Nonuniform heat surface flux per unit area applied on the element surface with
magnitude supplied via user subroutine DFLUX.
Film conditions
Surface-based film conditions are available for all elements with temperature degrees of freedom. They
are specified as described in “Thermal loads,” Section 30.4.4.
Load ID (*SFILM): F
Description: Film coefficient and sink temperature (units of ) provided on the element surface.
Load ID (*SFILM): FNU(S)
Description: Nonuniform film coefficient and sink temperature (units of ) 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,” Section 30.4.4.
Load ID (*SRADIATE): R
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface radiation
Units: Dimensionless
Description: Emissivity and sink temperature (units of ) 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,” Section 30.4.6.
Load ID (*SFLOW/ *DSFLOW): Q(S)
Units: F–1L3T–1
Description: Seepage (outward normal flow) proportional to the difference between surface pore
pressures and a reference sink pore pressure on the element surface (units of FL–2).
Load ID (*SFLOW/ *DSFLOW): QD(S)
Units: F–1L3T–1
Description: Drainage-only seepage (outward normal flow) proportional to the surface pore pressure
on the element surface only when that pressure is positive.
Load ID (*SFLOW/ *DSFLOW): QNU(S)
Units: F–1L3T–1
Description: Nonuniform seepage (outward normal flow) proportional to the difference between
surface pore pressures and a reference sink pore pressure on the element surface (units of FL–2) with
magnitude supplied via user subroutine FLOW.
Load ID (*SFLOW/ *DSFLOW): S(S)
Units: LT–1
Description: Prescribed pore fluid effective velocity outward from the element surface.
Load ID (*SFLOW/ *DSFLOW): SNU(S)
Units: LT–1
Description: Nonuniform prescribed pore fluid effective velocity (outward from the surface) on 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,” Section 30.4.5.
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,” Section 30.4.5. 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,” Section 6.6.3.
Load ID (*DSECHARGE): ES(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface charge
Units: CL–2
Description: Prescribed surface charge on the element surface.
Distributed electric current densities
Surface-based electric current densities are available for coupled thermal-electrical elements. They are
specified as described in “Coupled thermal-electrical analysis,” Section 6.6.2.
Load ID (*DSECURRENT): CS(S)
Abaqus/CAE Load/Interaction: Surface current
Units: CL–2T–1
Description: Current density applied on the element surface.
Element output
Output is in global directions unless a local coordinate system is assigned to the element through the
section definition (“Orientations,” Section 2.2.5) in which case output is in the local coordinate system
(which rotates with the motion in large-displacement analysis). See “State storage,” Section 1.5.4 of
the Abaqus Theory Manual, 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 , direct stress.

S22 , direct stress.
S33 , direct stress (not available for plane stress elements).
S12 , shear stress.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Electrical flux components
Available for piezoelectric elements.
EFLX1 Electrical flux in the X-direction.

EFLX2 Electrical flux in the Y-direction.
Electrical current density components
Available for coupled thermal-electrical elements.
ECD1 Electrical current density in the X-direction.

ECD2 Electrical current density in the Y-direction.
Node ordering and face numbering on elements
For generalized plane strain elements, the reference node associated with each element (where the
generalized plane strain degrees of freedom are stored) is not shown. The reference node should be the
same for all elements in any given connected region so that the bounding planes are the same for that
region. Different regions may have different reference nodes. The number of the reference node is not
incremented when the elements are generated incrementally (see “Creating elements from existing
elements by generating them incrementally” in “Element definition,” Section 2.2.1).
Triangular element faces
Face 1 1 – 2 face
Face 2 2 – 3 face
Face 3 3 – 1 face
Quadrilateral element faces
Face 1 1 – 2 face
Face 2 2 – 3 face
Face 3 3 – 4 face
Face 4 4 – 1 face
Numbering of integration points for output
For heat transfer applications a different integration scheme is used for triangular elements, as described
in “Triangular, tetrahedral, and wedge elements,” Section 3.2.6 of the Abaqus Theory Manual.

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25.1.

3 Two-dimensional solid element library Page 1 of 26

25.1.3 Two-dimensional solid element library

Products: Abaqus/Standard Abaqus/Explicit Abaqus/CAE

z “Solid (continuum) elements,” Section 25.1.1

Plane strain elements

CPE3 3-node linear

CPE4(S) 4-node bilinear

CPE4H(S) 4-node bilinear, hybrid with constant pressure

CPE4I(S) 4-node bilinear, incompatible modes

CPE4IH(S) 4-node bilinear, incompatible modes, hybrid with linear

CPE6H(S) 6-node quadratic, hybrid with linear pressure

CPE8H(S) 8-node biquadratic, hybrid with linear pressure

CPE8R(S) 8-node biquadratic, reduced integration

CPE8RH(S) 8-node biquadratic, reduced integration, hybrid with linear

Active degrees of freedom

Additional solution variables

Plane stress elements

CPS3 3-node linear

CPS4I(S) 4-node bilinear, incompatible modes

CPS8R(S) 8-node biquadratic, reduced integration

Active degrees of freedom

Additional solution variables

Element type CPS6M has two additional displacement variables.

Generalized plane strain elements

CPEG3(S) 3-node linear triangle

CPEG3H(S) 3-node linear triangle, hybrid with constant pressure

CPEG4(S) 4-node bilinear quadrilateral

CPEG4H(S) 4-node bilinear quadrilateral, hybrid with constant

CPEG4IH(S) 4-node bilinear quadrilateral, incompatible modes, hybrid

CPEG6H(S) 6-node quadratic triangle, hybrid with linear pressure

CPEG6M(S) 6-node modified, with hourglass control

CPEG6MH(S) 6-node modified, with hourglass control, hybrid with

CPEG8H(S) 8-node biquadratic quadrilateral, hybrid with linear

CPEG8RH(S) 8-node biquadratic quadrilateral, reduced integration,

Active degrees of freedom

1, 2 at all but the reference node

3, 4, 5 at the reference node

Additional solution variables

Coupled temperature-displacement plane strain elements

CPE3T 3-node linear displacement and temperature

CPE4HT(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature, hybrid with

CPE6MT 6-node modified displacement and temperature, with

CPE8HT(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature,

Active degrees of freedom

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

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

Additional solution variables

Coupled temperature-displacement plane stress elements

CPS3T 3-node linear displacement and temperature

CPS8RT(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature,

Active degrees of freedom

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

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

Additional solution variables

Coupled temperature-displacement generalized plane strain elements

CPEG3T(S) 3-node linear displacement and temperature

CPEG3HT(S) 3-node linear displacement and temperature, hybrid with

CPEG4HT(S) 4-node bilinear displacement and temperature, hybrid with

CPEG8HT(S) 8-node biquadratic displacement, bilinear temperature,

Active degrees of freedom

1, 2 at midside nodes of second-order elements