The finite element types used in RFEM are given in the following tables. They are chosen automatically by the program according to the situation.
One-Dimensional (1D)
| Element Type | Element Description |
|---|---|
| Beam element | Element with rotational degrees of freedom |
Two-Dimensional (2D)
| Element Type | Element Description |
|---|---|
| Plate element | Lynn-Dhillon / MITC3 / MITC4 (used in case of nonlinear calculation) |
| Wall element | With stabilized zero-energy modes |
| Shell element | Plate element + wall element |
Three-Dimensional (3D)
| Element Type | Element Description |
|---|---|
| Solid element | Element with or without rotational degrees of freedom / gas element / contact element |
For further information, see the Chapter Finite Elements from Topological Point of View.