Material properties are evaluated at or near the centroid of the element or at each of the integration points, as follows:
Thermal elements: All properties are evaluated at the centroid except for the specific heat or enthalpy and density, which are evaluated at the integration points. For some current-technology thermal elements (SOLID278, SOLID279, SOLID291, PLANE292, PLANE293), you can optionally specify that material properties be evaluated at the integration points to improve accuracy of nonlinear material simulation.
Structural elements: All properties are evaluated at the integration points.
Diffusion elements: All properties are evaluated at the integration points.
Coupled-field elements (PLANE222, PLANE223, SOLID225, SOLID226, SOLID227):
All structural, magnetic, and diffusion properties are evaluated at the integration points.
Temperature-dependent thermal properties (if THOPT,FULL) and temperature-dependent electrical properties are evaluated at the integration points.
All electrostatic properties are evaluated at the centroid.
All other elements: All properties are evaluated at the centroid.
If the temperature of the centroid or integration point falls below or rises above the defined temperature range of tabular data, Mechanical APDL assumes the defined extreme minimum or maximum value, respectively, for the material property outside the defined range.