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<a name = "hj-top"> </a><table class = "table1" id = "table11"><tr><td><table class = "DocHeader"><tr><td class = "DocHeader1" colspan = "2"><h1>Optimizable Element Types</h1></td></tr><tr><td class = "DocHeader4" colspan = "2"/></tr><tr><td class = "DocHeader3" colspan = "2"><table class = "DocThemeIntro" id = "table12"><tr><td class = "Intro1Only"><p class = "header"><p class = "abstract">
<span class = "shortdesc">This section describes which element types are allowed for
optimization with <span class = "ph">SIMULIA Tosca Structure</span>.</span>

</p>

</p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>




<div class = "body conbody">
<p>In general,
<span class = "ph">SIMULIA Tosca Structure</span>
allows all element types listed in the table below in the optimization
area. However, there are exceptions: For supported element types in shape sensitivity optimizations, 
see <a class = "xref" href = "tso-c-usr-shape-desArea-desVar.htm#tso-c-usr-shape-desArea-desVar__tso-c-usr-shape-desArea-desVar-shapeSensElems">Supported Elements Attached to Shape Sensitivity Design Nodes using SENS_CALC_MODE = TOSCA.</a>.
Details concerning specific element definitions for the several solvers are listed in 
<a class = "xref" href = "tso-m-usr-solver-sb.htm#tso-m-usr-solver-sb" title = "This chapter describes the formats and functionalities of the different solvers supported by SIMULIA Tosca Structure. The topological and physical properties of the analysis model (finite element input file) are required for the optimization of an FE model. Normally, not all information contained in the analysis model is necessary for an optimization. The optimization module returns the modified model data to the FE solver. The node coordinates are changed during shape and bead optimization. New materials and element properties are generated during topology optimization and the assignments of the elements to the material definitions and material properties are changed. Therefore, there are very few restrictions to the FE modeling (finite element input file).">Solver Specific Features</a>. 
Some design responses are not allowed for all element types. This can be found in the corresponding
paragraphs of <a class = "xref" href = "tso-m-usr-terms-sb.htm#tso-m-usr-terms-sb" title = "This chapter deals with typical optimization definitions and explains topics regarding the optimization targets, the optimization restrictions and how to define these.">Terms for Optimization</a>.</p>
<table class = "table" id = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590"><caption/><colgroup><col/><col/></colgroup><thead class = "thead">
<tr class = "row">
<th class = "entry" id = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p><span class = "ph">SIMULIA Tosca Structure</span>
Element Type</p></th>
<th class = "entry" id = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Topological Description</p></th>
</tr>
</thead><tbody class = "tbody">
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>PLANE_QUAD_4</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Four-node 2D plate element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>PLANE_QUAD_8</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Eight-node 2D plate element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>PLANE_TRIANG_3</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Three-node 2D plate element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>PLANE_TRIANG_6</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Six-node 2D plate element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SHELL_QUAD_4</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Four-node 3D shell element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SHELL_QUAD_8</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Eight-node 3D shell element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SHELL_TRIANG_3</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Three-node 3D shell element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SHELL_TRIANG_6 </p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Six-node 3D shell element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SOLID_BRICK_8</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Eight-node 3D solid element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SOLID_BRICK_20</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Twenty-node 3D solid element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SOLID_TETRA_4</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Four-node 3D solid element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SOLID_TETRA_10</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Ten-node 3D solid element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SOLID_PYRAM_5</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Five-node 3D solid element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SOLID_PYRAM_13</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Thirteen-node 3D solid element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SOLID_PENTA_6</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Six-node 3D solid element</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__1"><p>SOLID_PENTA_15</p></td>
<td class = "entry" headers = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588590__entry__2"><p>Fifteen-node 3D solid element</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>

<p>The following figure shows the optimizable element types. Those which
are marked with a * are only supported for controller-based optimization.</p>
<table class = "table" id = "tso-c-usr-model-elemTypes__xx588871"><caption/><colgroup><col/></colgroup><tbody class = "tbody">
<tr class = "row">
<td class = "entry"><br/><img class = "image" src = "../TsoUserImages/model_element_types.png" width = "353" height = "488"/><br/></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>

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