Node and Element Definition

FEMGEN will generate a finite element mesh of nodes and geometric element types. These geometric element types are related to the LR.STRAND element names via an element variant number. The element variant mappings for may be displayed by using the FEMGEN command 'UTILITY TABULATE FE LR.STRAND', and these mappings are shown in table 2.1. Element variants are assigned using the command 'MESHING TYPES part ELTYPE variantno'. The variant number is optional and the default is 1.

'GRID' cards are generated for all nodes in the model. Nodal coordinates are output in the global cartesian system, regardless of the system in which the model was defined in FEMGEN.

Element definition cards e.g. 'CTRIA3' are generated for all elements in the model. The jacobian (or sense) of all elements is checked by the interface and corrected where necessary. The interface also re-numbers the elements according to the LR.STRAND conventions. For models where one or more nodes lie outside the X-Y plane, the interface will not perform a jacobian check on TR3, and QU4 elements.

Eltype LR.STRAND Element Variants

BE2 1 = CBAR 2 = CONROD 3 = RROD 4 = CELAS2

TR3 1 = CTRIA3 2 = CTRMEM

QU4 1 = CQUAD4 2 = CQDMEM1

P-EL 1 = NODE-GEN