A beam element is a one-dimensional finite element with two nodes, one at each end. Each node possesses six degrees of freedom: three translational (TX, TY, TZ) and three rotational (RX, RY, RZ), corresponding to translation along and rotation about the X, Y, and Z axes. Beam elements are capable of resisting axial forces, bending moments, shear forces, torsional loads, and applied moments.
Beam elements in Optistruct can be modeled using CBAR or CBEAM elements and PBAR/PBARL or PBEAM/PBEAML properties respectively. CBAR and CBEAM elements are primarily based on Timoshenko beam theory, with the flexibility to exclude shear deformation for PBAR and PBEAM properties when necessary, effectively reducing them to a Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. In contrast, PBARL and PBEAML beams always account for shear flexibility.
Summary PBAR/PBARL-PBEAM/PBEAML
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