4.1                       Element Types Supported by CivilFEM

4.1.1                      Introduction

A model built within CivilFEM + ANSYS can employ any of the element types of ANSYS library. However, CivilFEM only performs calculations on certain element types (available elements are dependent on the kind of calculation), ignoring the other elements which will only be used by ANSYS.

For example, a model can have both beam and gap elements, but CivilFEM will only be able to define sections and perform checks according to codes on beam elements. Gap elements will be ignored by CivilFEM, but nonetheless will be considered by ANSYS for calculating forces and moments of the structure.

4.1.2                      User Friendly Beams and Checking According to Codes

All the tools developed for beam elements are available for the following ANSYS elements: LINK1, BEAM3, BEAM4, LINK8, LINK10, PIPE16, PIPE20, BEAM23, BEAM24, BEAM44, BEAM54, BEAM188 and BEAM189.

Note: BEAM23 elements require KEYOPT(6) parameter (which controls the section type) to be fixed at 4, so that the sets of real constants generated by CivilFEM are valid for this element type.

4.1.3                      Shells Reinforcement

The calculation of shell reinforcement in CivilFEM can be done using the following ANSYS elements: SHELL43, SHELL63, SHELL93, SHELL181 and SHELL281.

4.1.4                      Combinations

The combination tools in CivilFEM support the following element types:

BEAM	1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 16, 20, 23, 24, 44, 54, 188, 189
SHELL	43, 63, 93, 181, 281
SOLID	2, 25, 42, 45, 64, 65, 73, 82, 83, 95, 145, 146
AXSHL	51, 61
CROSS	1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 16, 20, 23, 24, 44, 54, 188, 189
VERTX	43, 63, 93, 181, 281

 

4.1.5                      FLAC^3D Integration

The following elements should be used whenever you create the model using ANSYS+CivilFEM in order to export and solve it with FLAC^3D:

- Elements to model the soil	SOLID45
- Structural elements	LINK8 BEAM4, BEAM44 SHELL43, SHELL63

 

Shells modeled in ANSYS should be 3-node shells (triangular option) in order to be exported to FLAC^3D. The SOLID45 element can be used in any of its degenerated shapes.

4.1.6                      Geotechnical and Foundations Module

The following plane elements are available for slope stability analyses:

MESH 200: KEYOPT (1)= 4, 5, 6, 7 Elements must lay on the X-Y plane or at least be parallel to it.

PLANE 2,35,146: Triangular PLANE of 6 nodes.

PLANE 13,42,55,67,162,182: Rectangular PLANE of 4 nodes.

PLANE 53,77,82,121,145,183: Rectangular PLANE of 8 nodes.

 

The available elements when using the Hoek & Brown failure criteria are the following:

PLANE	PLANE82, PLANE42
SOLID	SOLID45, SOLID92, SOLID95

 

For calculation and design of retaining walls, the available elements are:

LINK	LINK1, LINK8, LINK10
BEAM	BEAM3, BEAM54, BEAM4, BEAM44

 

Concerning the ballast module calculation, the available types of elements are:

MESH	MESH200 (KEYOPT (1) = 4, 5, 6, 7)
SHELL	SHELL41, SHELL63, SHELL99
SURF	SURF154

 

Loads concerning earth pressure in CivilFEM can be generated using the following element types:

PLANE	PLANE2, PLANE42, PLANE82, PLANE145, PLANE146
SOLID	SOLID45, SOLID46, SOLID64, SOLID65, SOLID73, SOLID95, SOLID147
BEAM	BEAM3, BEAM23, BEAM54, BEAM4, BEAM24, BEAM44, BEAM188, BEAM189
SHELL	SHELL43, SHELL63, SHELL93, SHELL181, SHELL281
SURF	SURF153, SURF154

 

Mohr-Coulomb material model can be used on the following element types:

PLANE	PLANE42, PLANE82
SOLID	SOLID45, SOLID65, SOLID92, SOLID95

 

Cam-Clay material model can be used on the following element types:

PLANE	PLANE182, PLANE183
SOLID	SOLID185, SOLID186, SOLID187

 

4.1.7                      Bridges and Civil Nonlinearities Module

For bridge analysis:

The following elements are valid for bridge and load generation:

SOLID	SOLID45, SOLID95
SHELL	SHELL43, SHELL63, SHELL181
BEAM	BEAM44
SURF	SURF154

 

For Civil Nonlinearities:

This module requires the elements used in the model to support different sections at each end as well as the possibility to modify its added mass. Therefore, elements that posses these characteristics are:

BEAM	BEAM44, BEAM54

When using this module in bar element structures, the module is also compatible with the following elements:

LINK	LINK1, LINK8, LINK10

In this case the user will need to introduce these elements without mass, accumulating the mass at the nodes of the structure.

Elements that support creep and shrinkage are detailed in the Bridges and Civil Nonlinearities module manual.

4.1.8                      Advanced Prestressed Concrete Module

This list of elements is limited by the elements over which the prestressing actions can be transferred. They include the following:

SOLID	SOLID45, SOLID64, SOLID65, SOLID95, SOLID147, SOLID148, SOLID185, SOLID186, SOLID187
SHELL	SHELL43, SHELL63, SHELL93, SHELL181
BEAM	BEAM3, BEAM4, BEAM44, BEAM54, BEAM188, BEAM189