## On this page

  

 

 # ansys::dpf::elements Struct Reference

 Last update: 16.07.2025 

`#include <dpf_api_base.h>`

## <a id="pub-types" name="pub-types"></a>Public Types

<a id="a26cd9737847a69cd1f856a8936c3551c" name="a26cd9737847a69cd1f856a8936c3551c"></a>enum **EElementType** {   
 **kAnsGeneral** = -2 , **kAnsAll** = -1 , **kAnsTet10** = 0 , **kAnsHex20** = 1 ,   
 **kAnsWedge15** = 2 , **kAnsPyramid13** = 3 , **kAnsTri6** = 4 , **kAnsTriShell6** = 5 ,   
 **kAnsQuad8** = 6 , **kAnsQuadShell8** = 7 , **kAnsLine3** = 8 , **kAnsPoint1** = 9 ,   
 **kAnsTet4** = 10 , **kAnsHex8** = 11 , **kAnsWedge6** = 12 , **kAnsPyramid5** = 13 ,   
 **kAnsTri3** = 14 , **kAnsTriShell3** = 15 , **kAnsQuad4** = 16 , **kAnsQuadShell4** = 17 ,   
 **kAnsLine2** = 18 , **kAnsNumElementTypes** = 19 , **kAnsUnknown** = 20 , **kAnsEMagLine** = 21 ,   
 **kAnsEMagArc** = 22 , **kAnsEMagCircle** = 23 , **kAnsSurface3** = 24 , **kAnsSurface4** = 25 ,   
 **kAnsSurface6** = 26 , **kAnsSurface8** = 27 , **kAnsEdge2** = 28 , **kAnsEdge3** = 29 ,   
 **kAnsBeam3** = 30 , **kAnsBeam4** = 31 , **kAnsGeneralPlaceholder** = 32 , **kAnsPolygon** = 33 ,   
 **kAnsPolyhedron** = 34 , **kAnsActualNumElementTypes** = 35   
 } <a id="a52e134d27c3ea7a5158ad3707d0af86d" name="a52e134d27c3ea7a5158ad3707d0af86d"></a>enum **EShape** { **eShell** = 0 , **eSolid** = 1 , **eBeam** = 2 , **eUnknownShape** = 3 } <a id="a15f94658f6da65e43f52199c682eaa41" name="a15f94658f6da65e43f52199c682eaa41"></a>typedef enum ansys::dpf::elements::EElementType **EElementType** ## <a id="pub-static-methods" name="pub-static-methods"></a>Static Public Member Functions

static [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) const &amp; [descriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a30e8daf92a36604a3c176d9f7b5d1f35) ([dp\_index](namespaceansys_1_1dpf.xhtml#a417548d1b705a9ba54ba9429afe68920) element\_index) ## <a id="pub-static-attribs" name="pub-static-attribs"></a>Static Public Attributes

static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [tet4](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a05d59369acd4f4ac6819645f2413ee22) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [tet10](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a7f276f248180559409b323fdedb70582) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [tri3](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#ac6ff34f1a725f25b7e0a095aff779136) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [triShell3](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a6da8547db64d0404c57c70c1b2ac7c49) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [tri6](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a678e9dcef96b39246445828f33e72b71) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [triShell6](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#aee80f084c6fbaedceee94106818bec1c) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [quad4](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a4781a62a05dd26d8f1f19cd7c4b6e524) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [quadShell4](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#ac9194bac632c648b744f96a2306b428b) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [quad8](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#ad36e9e7391d69a1b8ad420e39fe3e7e0) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [quadShell8](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a93a4e8340f6e8aa6c8eaddc53f4f597d) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [pyramid5](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a5691e11b844d29be5134f86e7dcd11dc) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [pyramid13](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a941c7a8dbfe56e2babd10f8cc8ac4285) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [wedge6](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a3141f08f706520d619035b8511f0896a) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [wedge15](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a892a97f94e4a6fddaad8fe6291ad3dff) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [hex8](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a04e5abf7b58c9ba639b0846d05950642) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [hex20](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a62bb2da3409ede24afca38ace21f75e8) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [line2](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a52f6751afe46909ad6c83c0b0510491d) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [line3](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#ae353ec6c1cb895bb0ee8b2dd59f2033e) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [point1](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a42c776bd25670e7ca0c2cc9fc91e2829) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [polygon](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a0b3e8e1bcd04a985c4f8d32c5e95738e) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [polyhedron](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#af9f8a7d13897f82bc5fefa49b8797a83) static const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) [unknown](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a51f0cc33dad4fd994ce98dd77a49ea9d) static const std::vector&lt; [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) &gt; [linears](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a5553bdd8a5ab865ec9f66f59f4103707) static const std::vector&lt; [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) &gt; [quadratics](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a3c236de96ce4dddc85a57bab6a32bc83) static const std::vector&lt; [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) &gt; [solid\_elements](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1elements.xhtml#a4abe6329bb8b96b9a4b7f3ecd8fc7f2e) <a id="details" name="details"></a>## Detailed Description

Predefined [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml).



## Member Function Documentation

<a id="a30e8daf92a36604a3c176d9f7b5d1f35" name="a30e8daf92a36604a3c176d9f7b5d1f35"></a>## [◆ ](#a30e8daf92a36604a3c176d9f7b5d1f35)descriptor()

 static [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) const &amp; ansys::dpf::elements::descriptor  ( [dp\_index](namespaceansys_1_1dpf.xhtml#a417548d1b705a9ba54ba9429afe68920)  *element\_index*)   inlinestatic 

Returns[ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) based on [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) id. Examples[DataApis.cpp](DataApis_8cpp-example.xhtml#a68).



## Field Documentation

<a id="a62bb2da3409ede24afca38ace21f75e8" name="a62bb2da3409ede24afca38ace21f75e8"></a>## [◆ ](#a62bb2da3409ede24afca38ace21f75e8)hex20

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::hex20  static 

Quadratic 20-nodes Hexahedron.





<a id="a04e5abf7b58c9ba639b0846d05950642" name="a04e5abf7b58c9ba639b0846d05950642"></a>## [◆ ](#a04e5abf7b58c9ba639b0846d05950642)hex8

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::hex8  static 

Linear 8-nodes Hexahedron.





<a id="a52f6751afe46909ad6c83c0b0510491d" name="a52f6751afe46909ad6c83c0b0510491d"></a>## [◆ ](#a52f6751afe46909ad6c83c0b0510491d)line2

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::line2  static 

Linear 2-nodes Line.

Examples[DataApis.cpp](DataApis_8cpp-example.xhtml#a54).



<a id="ae353ec6c1cb895bb0ee8b2dd59f2033e" name="ae353ec6c1cb895bb0ee8b2dd59f2033e"></a>## [◆ ](#ae353ec6c1cb895bb0ee8b2dd59f2033e)line3

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::line3  static 

Quadratic 3-nodes Line.





<a id="a5553bdd8a5ab865ec9f66f59f4103707" name="a5553bdd8a5ab865ec9f66f59f4103707"></a>## [◆ ](#a5553bdd8a5ab865ec9f66f59f4103707)linears

 const std::vector&lt;[ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml)&gt; ansys::dpf::elements::linears  static 

of those elements with no mid-side nodes (excluding shell elements).





<a id="a42c776bd25670e7ca0c2cc9fc91e2829" name="a42c776bd25670e7ca0c2cc9fc91e2829"></a>## [◆ ](#a42c776bd25670e7ca0c2cc9fc91e2829)point1

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::point1  static 

Point element.

Examples[DataApis.cpp](DataApis_8cpp-example.xhtml#a53), and [DataExport.cpp](DataExport_8cpp-example.xhtml#a13).



<a id="a0b3e8e1bcd04a985c4f8d32c5e95738e" name="a0b3e8e1bcd04a985c4f8d32c5e95738e"></a>## [◆ ](#a0b3e8e1bcd04a985c4f8d32c5e95738e)polygon

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::polygon  static 

Polygon element.





<a id="af9f8a7d13897f82bc5fefa49b8797a83" name="af9f8a7d13897f82bc5fefa49b8797a83"></a>## [◆ ](#af9f8a7d13897f82bc5fefa49b8797a83)polyhedron

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::polyhedron  static 

Polyhedron element.





<a id="a941c7a8dbfe56e2babd10f8cc8ac4285" name="a941c7a8dbfe56e2babd10f8cc8ac4285"></a>## [◆ ](#a941c7a8dbfe56e2babd10f8cc8ac4285)pyramid13

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::pyramid13  static 

Quadratic 13-nodes Pyramid.





<a id="a5691e11b844d29be5134f86e7dcd11dc" name="a5691e11b844d29be5134f86e7dcd11dc"></a>## [◆ ](#a5691e11b844d29be5134f86e7dcd11dc)pyramid5

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::pyramid5  static 

Linear 5-nodes Pyramid.





<a id="a4781a62a05dd26d8f1f19cd7c4b6e524" name="a4781a62a05dd26d8f1f19cd7c4b6e524"></a>## [◆ ](#a4781a62a05dd26d8f1f19cd7c4b6e524)quad4

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::quad4  static 

Linear 4-nodes Quadrangle.

Examples[DataApis.cpp](DataApis_8cpp-example.xhtml#a52).



<a id="ad36e9e7391d69a1b8ad420e39fe3e7e0" name="ad36e9e7391d69a1b8ad420e39fe3e7e0"></a>## [◆ ](#ad36e9e7391d69a1b8ad420e39fe3e7e0)quad8

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::quad8  static 

Quadratic 8-nodes Quadrangle.





<a id="a3c236de96ce4dddc85a57bab6a32bc83" name="a3c236de96ce4dddc85a57bab6a32bc83"></a>## [◆ ](#a3c236de96ce4dddc85a57bab6a32bc83)quadratics

 const std::vector&lt;[ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml)&gt; ansys::dpf::elements::quadratics  static 

Vector of those elements with mid-side nodes (excluding shell elements).





<a id="ac9194bac632c648b744f96a2306b428b" name="ac9194bac632c648b744f96a2306b428b"></a>## [◆ ](#ac9194bac632c648b744f96a2306b428b)quadShell4

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::quadShell4  static 

Linear 4-nodes Quadrangle Shell.

Examples[DataExport.cpp](DataExport_8cpp-example.xhtml#a12).



<a id="a93a4e8340f6e8aa6c8eaddc53f4f597d" name="a93a4e8340f6e8aa6c8eaddc53f4f597d"></a>## [◆ ](#a93a4e8340f6e8aa6c8eaddc53f4f597d)quadShell8

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::quadShell8  static 

Quadratic 8-nodes Quadrangle Shell.





<a id="a4abe6329bb8b96b9a4b7f3ecd8fc7f2e" name="a4abe6329bb8b96b9a4b7f3ecd8fc7f2e"></a>## [◆ ](#a4abe6329bb8b96b9a4b7f3ecd8fc7f2e)solid\_elements

 const std::vector&lt;[ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml)&gt; ansys::dpf::elements::solid\_elements  static 

Vector of solid/volume elements.





<a id="a7f276f248180559409b323fdedb70582" name="a7f276f248180559409b323fdedb70582"></a>## [◆ ](#a7f276f248180559409b323fdedb70582)tet10

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::tet10  static 

Quadratic 10-nodes Tetrahedron.





<a id="a05d59369acd4f4ac6819645f2413ee22" name="a05d59369acd4f4ac6819645f2413ee22"></a>## [◆ ](#a05d59369acd4f4ac6819645f2413ee22)tet4

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::tet4  static 

Linear 4-nodes Tetrahedron.

Examples[DataApis.cpp](DataApis_8cpp-example.xhtml#a55), and [DataExport.cpp](DataExport_8cpp-example.xhtml#a14).



<a id="ac6ff34f1a725f25b7e0a095aff779136" name="ac6ff34f1a725f25b7e0a095aff779136"></a>## [◆ ](#ac6ff34f1a725f25b7e0a095aff779136)tri3

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::tri3  static 

Linear 3-nodes Triangle.





<a id="a678e9dcef96b39246445828f33e72b71" name="a678e9dcef96b39246445828f33e72b71"></a>## [◆ ](#a678e9dcef96b39246445828f33e72b71)tri6

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::tri6  static 

Quadratic 6-nodes Triangle.





<a id="a6da8547db64d0404c57c70c1b2ac7c49" name="a6da8547db64d0404c57c70c1b2ac7c49"></a>## [◆ ](#a6da8547db64d0404c57c70c1b2ac7c49)triShell3

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::triShell3  static 

Linear 3-nodes Triangle Shell.





<a id="aee80f084c6fbaedceee94106818bec1c" name="aee80f084c6fbaedceee94106818bec1c"></a>## [◆ ](#aee80f084c6fbaedceee94106818bec1c)triShell6

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::triShell6  static 

Quadratic 6-nodes Triangle Shell.





<a id="a51f0cc33dad4fd994ce98dd77a49ea9d" name="a51f0cc33dad4fd994ce98dd77a49ea9d"></a>## [◆ ](#a51f0cc33dad4fd994ce98dd77a49ea9d)unknown

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::unknown  static 

Unknown element type.





<a id="a892a97f94e4a6fddaad8fe6291ad3dff" name="a892a97f94e4a6fddaad8fe6291ad3dff"></a>## [◆ ](#a892a97f94e4a6fddaad8fe6291ad3dff)wedge15

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::wedge15  static 

Quadratic 15-nodes Wedge.





<a id="a3141f08f706520d619035b8511f0896a" name="a3141f08f706520d619035b8511f0896a"></a>## [◆ ](#a3141f08f706520d619035b8511f0896a)wedge6

 const [ElementDescriptor](structansys_1_1dpf_1_1ElementDescriptor.xhtml) ansys::dpf::elements::wedge6  static 

Linear 6-nodes Wedge.