Element Has Zero Length

- April 15, 2023 at 6:06 pm
  
  Awlad
  Subscriber
  
  Dear ANSYS Users:
  I am using "beam3" element to solve a 3D beam. I am getting an error message saying that "Element Has Zero Length". I am chaning the element size and node merging. But it did not work. I am also attaching my APDL code. Is there anyone who can help me to solve this problem? Thanks,
  Awlad.
  !! APDL Code:
  fini
  /clear
  /title, Beam Problem "Exercise # 4.25"
  /prep7
  
  !! Make model first
  !! Define Keypoints
  k,1,0,0
  k,2,10*12,0 !! x=10 feet
  k,3,10*12,0,5*12 !! x=10 feet, y=0 and z = 5 feet
  !! Create Lines
  L,1,2 !! L1
  L,2,3 !! L2
  /pnum,line,1
  Lplot
  !! element type
  et,1,3
  !! Real constant
  !! Section, W18 x 35 beam
  A=10.3 !! in^2
  I=510 !! in^4
  D=17.7 !! in
  r,1,A,I,D
  !! material, steel
  mp,ex,1,30e6
  mp,prxy,1,0.3
  !! Make FE model
  esize,1 !! Element size = 1 inch
  !! Recall Proper ID Numbers
  type,1
  real,1
  mat,1
  Lmesh,All
  elist
  !! BC
  dk,1,all,0
  !! External load
  fk,3,fy,-1000
  fk,3,fx,500
  fini
  alls
  /solu
  solve
  fini
- April 17, 2023 at 1:44 pm
  
  Chandra Sekaran
  Ansys Employee
  
  BEAM3 is a 2D element (ux,uy,rotz dof) and MUST be in X-Y plane. The above input is in X-Z plane. May be you can switch to X-Y plane or switch the element type to Beam188 or Beam4.
- April 17, 2023 at 1:44 pm
  
  mrife
  Ansys Employee
  
  Hi Awlad
  Beam3 is a 2D beam that should be in the global XY plane only (it has X & Y translation and ROTZ degrees of freedom). Perhaps you mean to use Beam4 which is a 3D beam element.
  Also, why are you using an undocumented element type?
  Mike
- April 27, 2023 at 3:39 am
  
  Awlad
  Subscriber
  
  Thank You. It solved my problem.
  Awlad.