Axisymmetric Field Elements

Axisymmetric Field Elements

Geometry | Materials | Loading | Output | Formulation | Options | Notes | Recommendations on Use

General
Element Name

Element Group
Element
Subgroup

TXF3

TXF6

QXF4

QXF8

Field
Plane Field

Element
Description

A family of axisymmetric field elements in 2D with higher order elements capable of modelling
curved boundaries. The elements are applicable to both steady state and transient field problems.
The formulations apply over a unit radian segment of the structure and the loading and boundary
conditions are axisymmetric. The elements are numerically integrated. Axisymmetry is taken
about the Y-axis by default.

Number Of
Nodes

3, 4, 6, or 8 numbered anticlockwise.

Freedoms
Node
Coordinates

j: field variable at each node.

X, Y: at each node

Geometric Properties
Not applicable (a unit radian segment is assumed).

Material Properties
Linear

Not applicable.

Matrix

Not applicable.

Joint

Not applicable.

Concrete

Not applicable.

Elasto-Plastic

Not applicable.

Rubber

Not applicable.

Generic Polymer

Not applicable

Composite

Not applicable.

Field

Isotropic:

MATERIAL PROPERTIES FIELD ISOTROPIC (Field:

Isotropic)
MATERIAL PROPERTIES FIELD ISOTROPIC CONCRETE
(Field: Isotropic)

Orthotropic:

MATERIAL PROPERTIES FIELD ORTHOTROPIC (Field:

Orthotropic)
MATERIAL PROPERTIES FIELD ORTHOTROPIC
CONCRETE (Field: Orthotropic)

Linear
convection/radiation:

Not applicable.

Arbitrary
convection/radiation:

Not applicable.

PDSP, TPDSP

j: field variable (temperature) at nodes.

CL

Q: field loading at nodes.

Loading
Prescribed Value
Concentrated Loads
Element Loads
Distributed Loads

Body Forces

Not applicable.
UDL

Not applicable.

FLD

qa: (Q/unit area) at nodes (see FLD Face loading applied to

thermal bars).

CBF

qv: (Q/unit volume) for element.

BFP, BFPE

qv: (Q/unit volume) at nodes/ for element.

Velocities

Not applicable.

Accelerations

Not applicable.

Initial Velocities

Not applicable.

Initial Stress/Strains

Not applicable.

Residual Stresses

Not applicable.

Target
Stress/Strains

Not applicable.

Temperatures

Not applicable.

Field Loads

ENVT

Environmental temperatures. je, hc, hr: external environmental

temperature, convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients.
(See Notes.)

Temp Dependent
Loads

TDET

Temperature dependent environmental temperatures. je, hc,

hr, T: external environmental temperature, convective and
radiative heat transfer coefficients and temperature. (See Notes.)

RIHG

Internal heat generation rate. Q, T: coefficient/unit volume and

temperature for element. (See Notes.)

LUSAS Output
Solver
Modeller

Field variable (temperature). gx, gy, gz, qx, qy, qz: gradients and flows in global directions.
See Results Tables (Appendix K).

Local Axes
Not applicable.

Sign Convention
n

Standard field element

Formulation
Geometric Nonlinearity
Not applicable.
Integration Schemes
Conductivity
Specific Heat

Default.

1-point (TXF3), 3-point (TXF6), 2x2 (QXF4, QXF8)

Fine (see Options).

3x3 (QXF8)

Default.

1-point (TXF3), 3-point (TXF6), 2x2 (QXF4, QXF8)

Fine.

As default.

Specific Heat Modelling

n

Consistent specific heat (default)

Lumped specific heat.

Options
18

Invokes fine integration rule for elements.

47

X-axis taken as axis of symmetry.

105

Lumped specific heat.

Notes on Use
1. The element formulations are based on the standard isoparametric approach. The variation of field variable
(temperature) within an element is linear low order (corner node only) elements and quadratic high order (midside node) elements.
2. All elements pass the patch test for convergence.
3. For linear field problems only one load case is allowed if an ENVT load is to be applied.
4. Load curves can be used to maintain or increment ENVT, TDET or RIHG loading as a nonlinear solution
progresses.
5. Automatic load incrementation under the NONLINEAR CONTROL data chapter cannot be used with TDET or
RIHG loading.
6. When using load curves with ENVT or TDET loading, the environmental temperatures will be factored but the
heat coefficients will remain constant.
7. If radiation is to be considered the problem becomes nonlinear and NONLINEAR CONTROL must be specified.

Restrictions
n

Ensure mid-side node centrality

Avoid excessive element curvature

Avoid excessive aspect ratio

Recommendations on Use
The axisymmetric field elements are suitable for analysing solid field problems which exhibit geometric and loading
symmetry about a given axis, e.g. temperature distribution in a pipe or radial groundwater flow into a well.