Coupled analysis using element type SOLID5 VS SOLID226 ANSYS APDL. Why getting different results?

- August 27, 2021 at 4:32 am
  
  k_ujjwal
  Subscriber
  
  Hi,
  I am performing the coupled analysis (structural +thermal)for the WAAM process. In ANSYS there are two hexahedral elements (SOLID5 and SOLID226) to perform it. I have run the calculation twice, once with SOLID5 and another with SOLID226 keeping the rest of the things the same. I am getting differences in temperature and stresses value for the two cases. Also, SOLID226 took more time to solve than SOLID5. Why is it so?
- August 27, 2021 at 7:21 am
  
  ErKo
  Ansys Employee
  
  Hi
  
  SOLID5 is an old legacy element, that is not recommended anymore (also it is a 8 node hex or 6 node prism).
  
  The recommended element to use for coupled analysis (e.g., thermal-struct.) is the solid226 with keyopt(1)=11 for thermal structural analysis (it is a 20 node hex element, ...) .
  They (226) are also used inside Workbench and in the coupled static system which is for thermal structural analysis and is the recommended way to perform this.
  
  All the best
  
  Erik