Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide - Ansys

shown below define two element types, BEAM188 and SHELL181, and assign them type reference numbers
1 and 2 respectively.
ET,1,BEAM188
ET,2,SHELL181
This table of type reference number versus element name is called the element type table. While defining
the actual elements, you point to the appropriate type reference number using the TYPE command (Main
Menu> Preprocessor> Modeling> Create> Elements> Elem Attributes).
Key Options
Many element types have key options, or KEYOPTs, and are referred to as KEYOPT(1), KEYOPT(2), etc. For
example, KEYOPT(3) for BEAM188 allows you to choose the shape function along the length of the beam,
and KEYOPT(8) for SHELL181 allows you to specify how layer data should be stored.
Specify KEYOPTs via the ET command or the KEYOPT command (Main Menu> Preprocessor> Element
Type> Add/Edit/Delete).
1.1.3. Defining Element Real Constants
Element real constants are properties that depend on the element type, such as the cross-sectional properties
of a beam element. Not all element types require real constants, and different elements of the same type
may have different real constant values.
You can specify real constants using the R family of commands (R, RMODIF, etc.) or their equivalent menu
paths; see the Command Reference for further information. As with element types, each set of real constants
has a reference number, and the table of reference number versus real constant set is called the real constant
table. While defining the elements, you point to the appropriate real constant reference number using the
REAL command (Main Menu> Preprocessor> Modeling> Create> Elements> Elem Attributes).
While defining real constants, keep these rules and guidelines in mind:
• When using one of the R commands, you must enter real constants in the order shown in Table 4.n.1
for each element type in the Element Reference.
• For models using multiple element types, use a separate real constant set (that is, a different REAL reference
number) for each element type. The ANSYS program issues a warning message if multiple element
types reference the same real constant set. However, a single element type may reference several real
constant sets.
• To verify your real constant input, use the RLIST and ELIST commands, with RKEY = 1 (shown below).
RLIST lists real constant values for all sets. The command ELIST,,,,,1 produces an easier-to-read list that
shows, for each element, the real constant labels and their values.
Command(s): ELIST
GUI: Utility Menu> List> Elements> Attributes + RealConst
Utility Menu> List> Elements> Attributes Only
Utility Menu> List> Elements> Nodes + Attributes
Utility Menu> List> Elements> Nodes + Attr + RealConst
Command(s): RLIST
GUI: Utility Menu> List> Properties> All Real Constants
Utility Menu> List> Properties> Specified Real Const
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1.1.3. Defining Element Real Constants
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