Beam2 element

Figure 1  Beam2 element

•     Beam2 is a general beam element with the following capabilities:

•    Tension

•    Compression

•    Torsion

•    Bending

•     The element has six degrees of freedom at each node:

•    Translations in the nodal x, y, and z directions

•    Rotations in the nodal x, y, and z axes

•     The element is defined by:

•    Two nodes

•    The cross-sectional area

•    Two area moments of inertia

•     V vector (Orientation vector)

•    Element X direction vector is defined a displacement vector from N1 to N2 like figure 1. The Orientation vector V is an perpendicular vector with the element X direction vector.

o  In the case of FFlex/Beam2 element, the V vector is defined as an Element Y direction vector.

o  In the case of toolkit Beam element (BeamBelt and R2R Beam), the V vector is defined as an Element Z direction vector.