/BRICK

Block Format Keyword Defines a hexahedral solid element or thick shell element with 8 nodes. The element type and formulation are defined on the /PROP card.

Format

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
/BRICK/part_ID
brick_ID node_ID1 node_ID2 node_ID3 node_ID4 node_ID5 node_ID6 node_ID7 node_ID8  

Definitions

Field Contents SI Unit Example
part_ID Part identifier of the block

(Integer, maximum 10 digits)

  
brick_ID Element identifier

(Integer)

  
node_ID1 Node identifier 1.

(Integer)

  
node_ID2 Node identifier 2.

(Integer)

  
node_ID3 Node identifier 3.

(Integer)

  
node_ID4 Node identifier 4.

(Integer)

  
node_ID5 Node identifier 5.
= 0
For tetrahedron with a specific formulation.

(Integer)

  
node_ID6 Node identifier 6.
= 0
For tetrahedron with a specific formulation.

(Integer)

  
node_ID7 Node identifier 7.
= 0
For tetrahedron with a specific formulation.

(Integer)

  
node_ID8 Node identifier 8.
= 0
For tetrahedron with a specific formulation.

(Integer)

  

Comments

  1. The identifier (ID) must be unique in each element family, but it is advised for each element type to have a unique element identifier in the global model.
  2. More than one /BRICK block can be used to define a part.
  3. Any number of elements can be defined in one /BRICK block.
  4. The elementary local coordinate system of the element is defined as:


    Figure 1.
  5. The connection element assigned /PROP/CONNECT has a different element local coordinate system which is similar to a shell element. The normal direction t is constructed from bottom (nodes 1-2-3-4) and top (nodes 5-6-7-8). Due to this difference, pre-processors will show the element normal of connection elements in s-axis direction which corresponds to the typical solid element.


    Figure 2.
  6. Brick elements can be degenerated into other 3D solid elements by repeating nodes numbers in the node_ID input to combine brick corners to together to form another shape. The most common example is a triangular prism pentahedra element, as shown in the next two images but other shapes are shown if needed to connect a complex mesh.










    Figure 3. Degenerated 3D Solid Element Examples
  7. The 8-node thick shell element is defined as a 3D solid element with /BRICK and assigned a thick shell property, /PROP/TYPE20 (TSHELL), /PROP/TYPE21 (TSH_ORTH), or /PROP/TYPE22 (TSH_COMP).

    8 node thick shells are referenced using brick element identifier, brick_ID and brick groups identifier, grbric_ID.

  8. For thick shell Pentahedron elements with the formulation PA6 (Isolid =15), /PENTA6 elements are recommended but degenerated /BRICK elements can be used. Only degenerated elements where the top (nodes 1, 2, 3, 4) and bottom (nodes 5, 6, 7, 8) faces are triangles can be used.