SSPquad Element

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This command is used to construct a SSPquad element object.

element SSPquad $eleTag $iNode $jNode $kNode $lNode $matTag $type $thick <$b1 $b2>

$eleTag	unique integer tag identifying element object
$iNode $jNode $kNode $lNode	the four nodes defining the element, input in counterclockwise order
$matTag	unique integer tag associated with previously-defined nDMaterial object
$type	string to relay material behavior to the element, can be either "PlaneStrain" or "PlaneStress"
$thick	thickness of the element in out-of-plane direction
$b1 $b2	constant body forces in x- and y-directions, respectively (optional, default = 0.0)

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The SSPquad element is a four-node quadrilateral element using physically stabilized single-point integration (SSP --> Stabilized Single Point). The stabilization incorporates an assumed strain field in which the volumetric dilation and the shear strain associated with the the hourglass modes are zero, resulting in an element which is free from volumetric and shear locking. The elimination of shear locking results in greater coarse mesh accuracy in bending dominated problems, and the elimination of volumetric locking improves accuracy in nearly-incompressible problems. Analysis times are generally faster than corresponding full integration elements.

NOTES:

1. Valid queries to the SSPquad element when creating an ElementalRecorder object correspond to those for the nDMaterial object assigned to the element (e.g., 'stress', 'strain'). Material response is recorded at the single integration point located in the center of the element.
2. The SSPquad element was designed with intentions of duplicating the functionality of the Quad Element. If an example is found where the SSPquad element cannot do something that works for the Quad Element, e.g., material updating, please contact the developers listed below so the bug can be fixed.

EXAMPLES:

SSPquad element definition with element tag 1, nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4, material tag 1, plane strain conditions, unit thickness, horizontal body force of zero, and vertical body force of -10.0

element SSPquad 1  1 2 3 4  1 "PlaneStrain" 1.0 0.0 -10.0

Elemental recorders for stress and strain when using the SSPquad element (note the difference from the Quad Element)

recorder Element -eleRange 1 $numElem -time -file stress.out  stress
recorder Element -eleRange 1 $numElem -time -file strain.out  strain

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Code Developed by: Chris McGann, Pedro Arduino, & Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein, at the University of Washington

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