Integration sections

[flopez]

Users:

I need to reduce the number of integration points on the frame elements to get convergence. However, I could't find where to change this setting (even after reading the help files).

Can anyone tell me how to change the number of integration sections?

Thanks

[sabrina.simonini]

If you are using an "infrmFB" element when you define the element class proprieties you can choose the number of integration sections, if you are using "infrmDB" the number or integration section is 2 and you can't reduce it.

[flopez]

Sabrina,

I am using infrmDB elements, so I guess no further action required.

Thanks a lot for your answer.

[jpacheco]

Hi,

Just to complement this discussion, I should stress that there are reasons for the fact that the number of integration sections in the “infrmDB” element is two and the integration scheme is Gauss-Legendre. Basically, since displacement-based elements use a cubic shape function for the transversal displacement field (consequently, linear curvature throughout the element length), it can be verified that there are no sensible gains of accuracy when a larger number of integration sections or the use of a different integration scheme (such as Gauss-Lobatto) are employed. However, the superiority of the force-based element “infrmFB” should be acknowledged and used whenever possible.

Ciao!