Axisymmetric Solid - Linear Triangle

Axisymmetric elements model structures which are symmetric about an axis of rotation and
are subjected to axisymmetric boundary conditions.

Linear triangular axisymmetric solid elements are supported by the following types of
analyses:

• Structural Analyses (Linear Statics, Normal Mode Dynamics, Superelement Creation,

Linear Buckling, Nonlinear Statics, Response Dynamics)

• Heat Transfer Analysis

• Potential Flow Analysis

A diagram of the element is shown below.

This element is a poor performer for many problems because too many elements are
necessary to achieve a solution of reasonable accuracy. Building an entire model of
axisymmetric linear triangular elements is not recommended.

Note that the cumulative mass of an axisymmetric element model as computed in a

verification run is the mass of the rotated model - not the mass of a 1-radian sector.

FE Descriptor ID
The FE descriptor ID for this element is 81 in the universal file.

Topology
 • nodes = 3

• edges = 3

Assumptions
• The Z axis is assumed to be the axis of symmetry.

• The X axis is in the radial direction.

• All nodes must lie in the X-Z plane of the part coordinate system, and must have a
nonnegative X (radial) coordinate.

• All loads must be in the X-Z plane.

• The Y axis of all nodal displacement coordinate systems must be parallel to the part's
Y axis.

• XY and YZ shear stresses and strains are zero.

• All gravity vectors must be parallel to the axis of symmetry.

• All angular velocity vectors must lie on the axis of symmetry.

Features (for Structural Analyses)

This section lists and describes the features of linear triangular axisymmetric solid elements
for linear and nonlinear structural analyses.

Summary of Features

Number of nodes: 3

Nodal DOF: 2 translational degrees of freedom assigned to each node

Boundary conditions:

Load Type Units

Loads: Mechanical .
.....Nodal forces force / radian
.....In-plane loads force / area
.....Shear loads force / area
Loads: Acceleration .
.....Load set gravity vector force / mass
.....Load set angular velocity vector cycles / time
.....Load set translational acceleration vector length / (time * time)
.....Load set angular acceleration vector cycles / (time * time)
Temperature set .
.....Load set reference temperature temperature
.....Load set ambient temperature temperature
.....Nodal temperatures temperature
Displacement restraints
.....Nodal displacements

Physical properties:

Formulation option .
Plastic yield function
Plasticity model (nonlinear structural only)
Plastic hardening rule
Creep equation option
Creep model (nonlinear structural only)
Creep hardening rule

Material types:

• Isotropic

• Orthotropic

Associated data: Material orientation vector (for orthotropic materials)

Output:

• Displacements

• Strains

• Elastic strain energy

• Plastic strains (nonlinear structural)

• Creep strains (nonlinear structural)

• Reaction forces

• Element forces

• Stresses

Element Formulation
The default formulation for this element uses area coordinates for displacement interpolation
functions to achieve a linear variation of displacements within the element. Details for this
element may be found in Zienkiewicz and Taylor, 1989, or in Cook et al, 1989.

A mean dilatational formulation may also be selected. This formulation is useful for
eliminating element locking which occurs when modelling nearly incompressible materials
(Poisson's ratio greater than .49). The standard displacement interpolation functions are used,
but the strain-displacement matrix is split into dilatational and deviatoric parts. The
dilatational part is replaced with the mean dilatational strain-displacement matrix for the
element. This technique is called the strain projection or B technique. For details see Hughes,
1987.

A single value for the mean stress or pressure is obtained across the whole element.
Therefore, this formulation is not recommended unless locking due to incompressibility is a
problem.

References:

• Cook, R. D., Malkus, D. S., and Plesha, M. E., Concepts and Applications of Finite
Element Analysis, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989, pp 114-115,
293-297.

• Hughes, T. J. R., The Finite Element Method, Linear Static and Dynamic Finite
Element Analysis, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1987, pp 232-237.

• Zienkiewicz, O. C. and Taylor, R. L., The Finite Element Method, Volume 1, Basic
Formulation and Linear Problems, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, London, 1989, pp 72-
80, 128-130.

Element Integration Points

The software numerically integrates element stiffness matrices, mass matrices, and internal
force matrices. It also recovers stresses and strains and performs plastic and creep strain
calculations at these element integration points.

The area coordinate definitions and integration points for this element are listed below.

Area coordinate definition

Area Coordinate Definition

0.0 along side 2-3
1
1.0 at node 1
0.0 along side 1-3
2
1.0 at node 2
0.0 along side 1-2
3
1.0 at node 3

Order and area coordinates of element integration points

Integration Point L1 L2 L3
1 2/3 1/6 1/6
2 1/6 2/3 1/6
3 1/6 1/6 2/3

If you request integration point stress and strain data output, the software reports it in the
order of the integration points listed above. The software calculates nodal stresses and strains
by extrapolating the integration point values to the nodes on an element-by-element basis.

When error analysis is requested in Post Processing, the software back-calculates the
integration point results using the solver's element assumptions. These data are then used for
the error analysis calculations.

Nodal DOF

Two translational degrees of freedom are assigned to each node. Translations are in the
directions of the nodal displacement coordinate system X and Z axes and have the dimensions
of length.

Boundary Conditions

Boundary conditions for the element include loads, temperature set, and displacement
restraints.

Loads: Mechanical

• nodal forces

• in-plane loads

• shear loads

Nodal forces are in the directions of nodal displacement coordinate system X and Z axes and
represent force per unit radian.

For a geometric nonlinear analysis:

• nodal forces are fixed in global direction and magnitude

 • element-based in-plane and shear loads change global direction as the element
deforms and displaces

Loads: Acceleration

See Also

• Common Features of the Elements

Temperature Set

The software uses the temperature set to interpolate material properties if temperature
dependent material properties are defined in the I-DEAS Material Data System software. The
software also uses the temperature set to compute thermal strain. Temperature set includes:

• load set reference

• load set ambient temperature

• nodal temperatures

For thermal effects, nodal temperature data can be created to define a linear
temperature variation through the element volume. However, thermal stresses
are exact only for the case of constant temperature throughout the element.

See Also

• Common Features of the Elements

The linear triangular axisymmetric solid element in Heat Transfer Analysis uses the same
temperature field as in structural thermal loading. This allows Heat Transfer Analysis to
automatically create a structural temperature set for use in Linear Statics Analysis.

Physical Properties

• formulation option

Recommend (recommended - equivalent to full integration using internal shape

functions)

Full-Int (full integration using internal shape functions)

Full-NoInt (full integration without using internal shape functions)

Mean-Dil (mean dilatational formulation)

• plasticity (nonlinear structural analysis only)

• creep model (nonlinear structural analysis only)

See Also

• Common Features of the Elements

Associated Data

• material orientation vector

When defining material orientation vectors for orthotropic materials, the

material X and Y axes must lie in the XZ plane of the element. The material Z
axis is perpendicular to, or normal to, the plane of the element. Therefore, you
only need to define the orientation of the material X axis in the elemental XZ
plane.

In this figure, (A) is the part coordinate system, and (B) is the material
orientation coordinate system.

If the material orientation vector is not defined, the material X axis is aligned
with the part's X axis; the material Y axis is aligned with the part's Z axis; and
the material Z axis is aligned with the part's Y axis.

Output

• displacements

• strains

• elastic strain energy

• plastic strains (nonlinear structural analysis only)

• creep strains (nonlinear structural analysis only)

• reaction forces

• element forces

• stresses
Stress, strain, strain energy, element forces, and elastic strain energy for Normal Mode
Dynamics and Linear Buckling are based on normalized modal displacements.

When performing a Buckling or Normal Mode Dynamics Analysis, only the axisymmetric
modes are obtained. These may not be all the modes of interest in the physical structure being
modeled. Out-of-plane modes are not captured with this type of element.

Features (for Heat Transfer Analysis)

This section lists and describes the features of linear triangular axisymmetric solid elements
for Heat Transfer Analysis.

Summary of Features

Number of nodes: 3

Nodal DOF: 1 temperature assigned to each node

Boundary conditions:

Load Type Units

.....Nodal heat source energy / (degree radian * time)
.....Element heat generation energy / (volume * time)
.....Edge flux energy / (area * time)
.....Edge convection energy / (area* temp. * time)
Temperature restraints .
.....Nodal temperatures .

Physical properties: Null property table

Material types:

• Isotropic

• Orthotropic

Associated data: Material orientation vector (for orthotropic materials)

Output:

• Temperature

• Flux

• Reaction heat sources

Note: All units are per time, and time units must be the same for all quantities. The finite
element software does not process any time units.

Element Formulation for Heat Transfer Analysis

This element uses area coordinates for linear interpolation of temperatures within the element.
Details for this element may be found in Zienkiewicz and Taylor, 1989, or in Cook et al,
1989.

References:

• Cook, R. D., Malkus, D. S. and Plesha, M. E., Concepts and Applications of Finite
Element Analysis, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989, pp 114-115,
293-297, 468-469, 477-480.

• Zienkiewicz, O. C. and Taylor, R. L., The Finite Element Method, Volume 1, Basic
Formulation and Linear Problems, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, London, 1989, pp 72-
80, 128-130, 209, 221.

Boundary Conditions

Boundary conditions for the element include loads and temperature restraints.

Loads

• nodal heat source loads

• element heat generation loads

The positive sense of nodal heat sources and element heat generation
represents the production of thermal energy. Nodal heat sources represent
energy / (degree radian * time).

• edge flux loads

Positive edge flux is inward and may vary linearly along the edge.

In this figure:

• A = edge start

• B = edge end
 • edge convection

Edge convection loads are defined by a convective film coefficient and a

temperature representing distant conditions.

The convective boundary condition is given by:

outward flow of heat = h * ( temperature - T )

Where

h = convective film coefficient - energy/ (area*T*time)

T = temperature representing distant conditions

Edge convection film coefficients are dimensioned as

energy/(area*temperature*time).

Note: Default units are the units that are current for the model, and time is in
seconds.

Associated Data

• material orientation vector

For orthotropic materials, the position of the material X axis is determined by

projecting the material orientation vector onto the element at each point on the
element. If no material orientation vector exists, the material axes are taken to
be parallel to the part's axes. Since no flow of heat in the direction of the part's
Y axis is possible, the Y thermal conductivity is ignored.

In this figure, (A) is the part coordinate system, and (B) is the material
orientation coordinate system.

Features (for Potential Flow Analysis)

This section lists and describes the features of linear triangular axisymmetric solid elements
for Potential Flow Analysis.
Summary of Features

Number of nodes: 3

Nodal DOF: 1 velocity potential assigned to each node

Boundary conditions:

Load Type Units

.....Nodal source loads volume / time
.....Edge flux loads volume / (area * time)

Output:

• Velocity

• Pressure

• Coefficient of pressure

Element Formulation for Potential Flow Analysis

The formulation for this element uses area coordinates for a linear interpolation of velocity
potential within the element. Details for this element may be found in Zienkiewicz and
Taylor, 1989, or in Cook et al, 1989.

References:

• Cook, R. D., Malkus, D. S. and Plesha, M. E., Concepts and Applications of Finite
Element Analysis, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989, pp 114-115,
293-297, 474-488.

• Zienkiewicz, O. C. and Taylor, R. L., The Finite Element Method, Volume 1, Basic
Formulation and Linear Problems, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, London, 1989, pp 72-
80, 128-130, 260, 285.

Boundary Conditions

• nodal source loads

• edge flux loads

The positive sense of nodal sources represents the production of fluid per unit
radian. The X component of structural nodal force is used to define nodal
source data.

Positive edge flux is inward and may vary linearly along the edge. The
membrane component of structural edge pressure is used to define edge flux.
 In this figure:

• A = edge start

• B = edge end

The X component of structural nodal displacement restraint is used to define

velocity potential restraint.

Copyright (c) 2002 Unigraphics Solutions Inc. All Rights Reserved.