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Eight-node plane strain element (CPE8 and CPE8R)

The eight node plane strain element is a general purpose plane strain element. It is actually a special case of plane stress element: the treatise of Section 5.1.13 also applies here. In addition we have:

Plane strain elements are used to model a slice of a very long structure, e.g. of a dam.

If a plane strain element is connected to a structure consisting of 3D elements the motion of this structure in the out-of-plane direction (z-direction) is not restricted by its connection to the 2D elements. The user has to take care that any rigid body motion of the structure involving the z-direction is taken care of, if appropriate. This particularly applies to any springs connected to plane strain elements.


next up previous contents
Next: Six-node axisymmetric element (CAX6) Up: Element Types Previous: Six-node plane strain element   Contents
guido dhondt 2009-08-12