6.13.1.7. External Model Supported Element Types

Mechanical APDL Elements

The following element types are supported when .cdb files are processed via the External Model system.

Shape CategorySupported Mechanical APDL Element Type
2D and 3D PointMASS21
2D Linear Quadrilateral PLANE13[a], PLANE25[a], FLUID29[a], PLANE55[a], PLANE75[a], PLANE182[a], INTER192, INTER202, CPT212[a], PLANE292[a], MESH200[b]
3D Linear QuadrilateralFLUID136, SHELL281, SHELL131[a], SHELL157[a], SHELL181[a], MESH200[b]
2D Quadratic TrianglePLANE35, MESH200[b]
2D Quadratic Quadrilateral PLANE77 [a], PLANE78[a], PLANE83[a], PLANE121[a], PLANE183[a], INTER193, INTER203, CPT2131, PLANE223[a], PLANE230[a], PLANE233[a], PLANE293[a], MESH200[b].
3D Quadratic Quadrilateral FLUID139, FLUID136, SHELL132[a], SHELL281, MESH200[b]
Beam BEAM4, BEAM188[c], BEAM189[b], and PIPE288/PIPE289, MESH200[b].
Linear Hexahedral SOLID5 [a], FLUID30[a], PLANE223, SOLID65[a], SOLID70[a], SOLID96[a], SOLID185[a], SOLID278[a], SOLSH190[a], INTER195, CPT215[a], , MESH200[b]
Link LINK33, LINK34, LINK180, FLUID116[d]
Quadratic Tetrahedral SOLID87, SOLID98, SOLID123, SOLID187, CPT217, SOLID227, SOLID232, SOLID237, SOLID285, SOLID291, FLUID221, MESH200[b]
Quadratic Hexahedral SOLID90 [a], SOLID122[a], SOLID186[a], INTER194, INTER204, CPT216[a], SOLID226[a], SOLID231[a], SOLID236[a], SOLID279[a], FLUID220, , MESH200[b]

[a] This element supports multiple shapes. This list displays the elements in their most basic and fundamental form.

[b] Section data and Real Constants are not imported for this element type.

[c] Pre-integrated composite beam sections are not supported by these elements types.

[d] The application does not use KEYOPTs for FLUID116. Therefore, you should verify the Fluid Descretization setting. In addition, this element uses the Flow cross-sectional area only.

NASTRAN Elements

The following element types are supported when NASTRAN Bulk Data (.bdf, .dat, .nas) files are processed via the External Model system.

Shape CategorySupported NASTRAN Element Type
2D Linear QuadrilateralCQUAD
3D Linear QuadrilateralCQUAD4, CQUADR
3D Linear TriangleCTRIAR , CTRIA3
2D Quadratic TriangleCTRIAX, CTRIAX6
3D Quadratic TriangleCTRIA6
2D Quadratic QuadrilateralCQUADX
3D Quadratic QuadrilateralCQUAD8
BeamCBAR, CBEAM
LinkCROD[a], CONROD[a]
Quadratic TetrahedralCTETRA[b]
Quadratic HexahedralCHEXA[b]
Quadratic PrismCPENTA[b]

[a] The torsional constant specified with rod element types is not used if you change the Model Type property is changed from Link to Beam. Instead, a circular cross section is assumed and the calculated torsional constant of the cross section is used.

[b] These elements have the option of being linear.

ABAQUS Elements

The following element types are supported when ABAQUS Input (.inp) files are processed via the External Model system.

Shape CategorySupported ABAQUS Element Type
2D Linear QuadrilateralCPE4, CPE4H, CPE4I, CPE4IH, CPE4R, CPE4RH, CPS6, CPS6M, CPS6MH, CPS6MT, CPS6E, CPEG4, CPEG4H, CPEG4I, CPEG4IH, CPEG4R, CPEG4RH, CPEG4HT, CPEG4RT, CPEG4RHT, DC2D4, DCC2D4, DCC2D4D, DC2D4E, AC2D4, AC2D4R, CAX4, CAX4H, CAX4I, CAXEIH, CAX4R, CAX4RH, DCAX4, DCCAX4, DCCAX4D, DCAX4E, CAXET, CAX4HT, CAX4RT, CAX4P, CAX4PH, CAX4RP, CAX4RPH, ACAX4, ACAX4R, CAX4E, CGAX4, CGAX4H, CGAX4R, CGAX4RH, CGAXET, CGAX4HT, CGAX4RT, CGAXERHT, CAXA4N, CAXA4HN, CAXA4RN, CAXA4RHN
2D Linear TriangleCPE3, CPE3H, CPE3S, CPE3T, CPE3E, CPS3, CPS3T, CPS3E, CPEG3, CPEG3H, CPEG3HT, CPEG3T, C2D3, DC2D3, DC2D3E, AC2D3, WARP2D3, CAX3, CAX3H, CGAX3, CGAX3H, DCAX3, DCAX3E, CAX3T, CGAX3T, CGA3HT, ACAX3, CAX3E
3D Linear QuadrilateralASI4, S4, S4R, S4RS, S4RSW, S4R5, M3D4, MSD4R, MCL6, R3D4, F3D4
3D Linear TriangleS3, S3R, S3RS, DS3, STRI3, F3D3, M3D3, SFM3D3
2D Quadratic TriangleCPE6, CPE6H, CPE6M, CPE6MH, CPE6MT, CPE6MHT, CPE6MHT, CPE6MP, CPE6MPG, CPE6E, CPS6, CPS6M, CPS6MT, CPS6E, CPEG6, CPEG6H, CPEG6M, CPEG6MH, CPEG6MT, CPEG6MHT, DC2D6, DC2D6E, AC2D6, CAX6, CAX6H, CAX6M, CAX6MH, DCAX6, DCAX6E, CAX6MT, CAX6MHT, CAX6MP, CAX6MPH, ACAX6, CAX63, CGAX8, CGAX8H, CGAX8M, CGAX8MH, CGAX8MT, CGAX8MHT
3D Quadratic TriangleSTRI65, DS6, M3D6
2D Quadratic QuadrilateralCPE8, CPE8H, CPE8R, CPE8RH, CPE8T, CPE8HT, CPE8RT, CPE8RHT, CPE8P, CPE8PH, CPE8RP. CPE8RPH, CPE8E, CPE8RE, CPS8, CPS8R, CPS8T, CPS8HT, CPE8RT, CPE8RHTM CPE8P. CPE8PH, CPE8RP, CPE8RPH, CPE8E, CPE8RE, DC2D8, DC2D8E, AC2D8, CAX8, CAX8H, CAX8R, CAX8RH, CGAX8, CGAX8H, CGAX8R CGAX8RH, DCAX8, CAX8T, CAX8HT, CAX8RT, CAX8RHT, CGAX8T, CGAX8HT, CGAX8RT, CGAX8RHT, CAX8P, CAX8PH, CAX8RP, CAX8PH, ACAX8, CAX8E, CAX8RE, CAXA8N, CAXA8HN, CAXA8RN, CAXA8RHN, CAXA8PN, CAXA8RPN
3D Quadratic QuadrilateralS8R, S8R5, S8RT, S9R5, ASI8, M3D8, M3D8R, M3D9, M3D9R, MCL9
Beam/PipeB21, B21H, PIPE21, PIPE21H, BEAM23, BEAM23H, FRAME2, B31, PIPE31, FRAME3, B31, B22, PIPE22, B32, PIPE32
Linear TetrahedralC3D4, C3D4H, C3D4T, C3D4E, DC3D4, DC3D4E, AC3D4
LinkT3D2, T3D3 (midside nodes are ignored)
Quadratic TetrahedralC3D10, C3D10H, C3D10M, C3D10MH, C3D10HT, C3D10MHT, C3D10MP, C3D10MPH, C3D10E, DC3D10, DC3D10E, AC3D10
Linear HexahedralC3D8, C3D8H, C3D8I, C3D8IH, C3D8R, C3D8RH, C3D8T, C3D8HT, C3D8RT, C3D8RHT, C3D8RPH, C3D8E, DC3D8, DC3D8E, DCC3D8, DCC3D8D, AC3D8, AC3D8R, SC8R
Quadratic HexahedralC3D20, C3D20H, C3D20R, C3D20RH, C3D20T, C3D20HT, C3D20RT, C3D20RHT, C3D20P, C3D20PH, C3D20RP, C3D20RPH, C3D20E, C3D20RE, DC3D20, DC3D20E, AC3D20, C3D27, C3D27R, C3D27RH
Linear PrismC3D6, C3D6H, C3D6T, C3D6E, DC3D6, DC3D6E, AC3D6, SC6R
Quadratic PrismC3D15, C3D15H, C3D15V, C3D15VH, C3D15E, DC3D15, DC3D15, DC3D15E
LS-DYNA Elements

The following element types are supported when LS-DYNA Input (.k) files are processed via the External Model system.

Shape CategorySupported LS-DYNA Element Type
2D Linear Quadrilateral*ELEMENT_SHELL
2D Linear Triangle*ELEMENT_SHELL
3D Linear Quadrilateral*ELEMENT_SHELL , *ELEMENT_SHELL_THICKNESS , *ELEMENT_SHELL_THICKNESS_OFFSET
3D Linear Triangle*ELEMENT_SHELL , *ELEMENT_SHELL_THICKNESS , *ELEMENT_SHELL_THICKNESS_OFFSET
Linear Tetrahedral*ELEMENT_SOLID
Quadratic Tetrahedral*ELEMENT_SOLID
Linear Hexahedral*ELEMENT_SOLID
Linear Prism*ELEMENT_SOLID
List of LS-DYNA Supported Keywords

*NODE

*ELEMENT_SOLID

*ELEMENT_SHELL

*ELEMENT_SHELL_THICKNESS

*ELEMENT_SHELL_THICKNESS_OFFSET

*PART

*SECTION_SOLID

*SECTION_SHELL

*SECTION_SOLID

*SET_NODE

*SET_NODE_LIST

*CONSTRAINED_NODAL_RIGID_BODY

*BOUNDARY_SPC_NODE

*BOUNDARY_SPC_SET

*INITIAL_STRESS_SOLID

*INITIAL_STRESS_SHELL