SHELL294 – A 3D thermal layered shell element with both in-plane and through-thickness thermal conduction capabilities. It has no limitation on the number of interpolation layers (defined by through-thickness DOFs) whereas the corresponding legacy element, SHELL131, is limited to 31 layers. In addition, it is geometrically more accurate as it distinguishes between bottom and top faces when applying surface loads, calculating view factors, and handling contact. It also considers geometry when binding adjacent elements with different layering, such as at a joint or at the runout of a tapered layer. Furthermore, it can have several material layers per interpolation layer for a better balance between accuracy and computational load. For verification examples, see VM97 and VM271 in the Ansys Mechanical APDL Verification Manual.

MPC184-Genb – A two-node 3D element with relative rotations defined by the 3-1-3 Euler angles. Use this element to connect two bodies to transmit motion from one body to another. Stiffness and damping behavior can be specified for this joint if needed.

CPT212, CPT213, CPT215, CPT216, CPT217 – These coupled pore-pressure-thermal mechanical solid elements can now be used as base elements in a reinforcing analysis using the mesh-independent method.

FLUID30, FLUID220, FLUID221, FLUID243, and FLUID244 – These acoustics elements now accept harmonic nonlinear acoustic material properties BETW and SDIF, terms used in the Westervelt Equation.

FLUID243 and FLUID244 – Use the new KEYOPT(2) = 8 to specify coupled nonlinear acoustic elements and KEYOPT(2) = 9 to specify uncoupled nonlinear acoustic elements.

PLANE222 and SOLID225 – These coupled-field elements now support the enhanced strain or the simplified enhanced formulation (KEYOPT(6) = 2 or 3) in a structural-electric-diffusion analysis (KEYOPT(1) = 100101).

INTER194 and INTER195 – The thin solid option with KEYOPT(2) = 2 (through-the-thickness, in-plane membrane, and transverse-shear deformation) now allows the use of von Mises plasticity models with isotropic hardening or kinematic hardening (TB,CHABOCHE; TB,NLISO or TB,PLASTIC).

MASS21 – The mass matrix in MASS21 can now be defined by inserting offset components in the element coordinate directions with KEYOPT(1) = 0 or 1 or inputting matrix constants in the element mass matrix using the new KEYOPT(1) = 2.

LINK228 – This element now supports charge-based (KEYOPT(1) = 1001) and current-based (KEYOPT(1) = 101) piezoelectric analyses.

TARGE169 and TARGE170 – Now have an alternate KEYOPT(7) usage for rigid target constraints.

TARGE170 – The element's constraint type detection option (KEYOPT(5) = 0) now has values for solid-solid, shell, shell, beam-to-solid, and beam-to-shell assemblies. It can also set KEYOPT(5) to the correct value for potential over-constrained pairs and non-smooth bonding interfaces.

CONTA172, CONTA174, CONTA175, and CONTA177 – These elements have a new KEYOPT(13) option to define the tangential contact stiffness variation (only for frictional contact).