LESSON 7

Element Selection Study

Objectives:
■ Small/Large displacement analyses

■ Compare performance of various element types

■ Compare CPU time to solve the cantilever beam problem

using a 1-D, 2-D and 3-D models

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 LESSON 7 Element Selection Study

Model Description:
In this problem, you will re-run the cantilever beam you analyzed in
Lesson 1 with different Finite Elements. You will study the
effectiveness of various1-D, 2-D and 3-D elements in linear as well
as non-linear analysis.

Suggested Exercise Steps:

■ Re-run the cantilever model in Lesson 1 with various
elements.

■ Use the mesh density suggested in Table 1.

P
A

A
L
a

Data for basic case:

L=100.0 in (2.54m)
a=1.0 in (25.4mm)
b b=2.0 in (50.8mm)
Linear elastic,
Young’s modulus=30.0 x 106 lb/in2
(207 GPa)
Poisson’s ratio =0.3
P=6000 lb (27200 N)

Section A-A

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 Exercise Procedure:
1. Repeat exercise 1 and try different elements for Linear and Nonlinear
analysis and use the elements suggested in the tables below.

Note: Use the following linear elastic material properties in all models:

E = 30.0E+06 psi
Poisson’s Ratio = 0.3

Define the Tip_Load to sum to 6000 lbs in all cases.

2. Fill out the tables for deflection and total cpu time.

Note: 50x2 mesh means 50 elements long and 2 elements deep.

Note: CPU time for each run can be obtained from the end of the “.msg” file.

3. There are questions at the end of this exercise. Read them over and be
prepared to discuss them in class.

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 LESSON 7 Element Selection Study

Table 1: Linear Analysis for Maximum Y-Displacement

Finite Elements Element Properties
ABAQUS Element Tip CPU
Mesh Dimension Type Option 1 Option 2
ELEMENT Type Displacement Time
B23 BAR2 5x1 1D Beam in Rectangular Cubic
XY Plane Section Interpolation

CPS4 QUAD4 50x2 2D 2D Solid Plane Stress Standard

Formulation

CPS4 QUAD4 50x4 2D 2D Solid Plane Stress Standard

Formulation

CPS4R QUAD4 50x2 2D 2D Solid Plane Stress Reduced

Integration

CPS4R QUAD4 50x4 2D 2D Solid Plane Stress Reduced

Integration

CPS4I QUAD4 50x1 2D 2D Solid Plane Stress Incompatible

Modes

CPS8R QUAD8 50x1 2D 2D Solid Plane Stress Reduced

Integration

C3D8 HEX8 50x2x1 3D Solid Standard ----------

Formulation

C3D20 HEX20 50x1x1 3D Solid Standard ----------

Formulation

C3D4 TET4 1.0 3D Solid Standard ----------

Formulation

C3D10 TET10 1.0 3D Solid Standard ----------

Formulation.

Note: Mesh the models using Tet4 and Tet10 elements with the
isomesher and a global edge length of 1.0.

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 Table 2: Nonlinear Analysis for Maximum Y-Displacement
Finite Elements Element Properties
ABAQUS Element Tip CPU
Mesh Dimension Type Option 1 Option 2
ELEMENT Type Displacement Time
B23 BAR2 5x1 1D Beam Rectangular Cubic
in XY Section Interpolation
Plane

CPS4 QUAD4 50x2 2D 2D Plane Stress Standard

Solid Formulation

CPS4 QUAD4 50x4 2D 2D Plane Stress Standard

Solid Formulation

CPS4R QUAD4 50x2 2D 2D Plane Stress Reduced

Solid Integration

CPS4R QUAD4 50x4 2D 2D Plane Stress Reduced

Solid Integration

CPS4I QUAD4 50x1 2D 2D Plane Stress Incompatible

Solid Modes

CPS8R QUAD8 50x1 2D 2D Plane Stress Reduced

Solid Integration

C3D8 HEX8 50x2x1 3D Solid Standard ----------

Formulation

C3D20 HEX20 50x1x1 3D Solid Standard ----------

Formulation

C3D4 TET4 1.0 3D Solid Standard ----------

Formulation

C3D10 TET10 1.0 3D Solid Standard ----------

Formulation

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 LESSON 7 Element Selection Study

Note: Mesh the models using Tet4 and Tet10 elements with the
isomesher and a global edge length of 1.0.

Table 3: Linear/Nonlinear Analysis for Maximum

Y-Displacements (Answers)

Linear Analysis Nonlinear Analysis

ABAQUS Tip CPU Tip CPU

Mesh
ELEMENT Displacement Time Displacement Time
B23 5x1 -100 0.07 -60.33 1.37

CPS4 50x2 -70.91 1.19 -51.38 17.07

CPS4 50x4 -71.84 2.19 -51.59 35.89

CPS4R 50x2 -121.09 0.66 -67.46 10.93

CPS4R 50x4 -100.09 1.09 -62.31 20.51

CPS4I 50x1 -100.02 0.69 -60.72 10.35

CPS8R 50x1 -98.37 0.73 -59.87 15.46

C3D8 50x2x1 -76.54 2.67 -53.55 72.26

C3D20 50x1x1 -99.70 9.00 -60.64 346.73

C3D4 1.0 -68.72 6.18 -50.47 117.16

C3D10 1.0 -99.85 23.71 -62.97 1675.5

Notes:
1. CPU Time is based on a HP 710 running HPUX
9.0.1. CPU time will vary depending platform
analysis is performed on.
2. Tetrahedron Mesh Information:
C3D4 Mesh had 1000 elements, 606 nodes
C3D10 Mesh had 1000 elements, 2815 nodes

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 Figure 3.1 - Deflection Results and Times for Linear Solution
Total CPU Time
1.4 Normalized to Tet10
Deflection Normalized
1.2 to Theoretical Answer
Normalized Deflection

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
Bar

Quad4 Std 5x2

Quad4 Std 5x4

Hex8 Std 50x2

Hex20 Std 50x1

Tet10 Std 500

Tet4 Std 500
Quad4 InM 5x1
Quad4 Red 5x2

Quad4 Red 5x4

Quad8 Red 5x1

Element Type, Mesh Density

Figure 3.2 - Deflection Results and Times for NonLinear Solution

Total CPU Time
1.4 Normalized to Tet10
Deflection Normalized
1.2 to 60.7 inches
Normalized Deflection

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
Quad4 InM 5x1
Bar

Quad4 Red 5x2

Quad4 Red 5x4

Quad8 Red 5x1

Quad4 Std 5x2

Quad4 Std 5x4

Tet10 Std 500

Tet4 Std 500
Hex8 Std 50x2

Hex20 Std 50x1

Element Type, Mesh Density

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 LESSON 7 Element Selection Study

Question: For Linear Elastic analysis using

continuum elements, which one of the
elements seem to be appropriate for bending
application? Keep in mind that you may have
distorted elements.
(class discussion)
____________________________________________

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Question: For non-linear analysis, which

continuum element would you choose?
(class discussion)
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Question: When is it appropriate to use 1-D, 2-D or

3-D elements?
(class discussion)
____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

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