Robot can analyze various types of structures.

These structures are listed in the following table, along

with their coordinates system and their nodal degrees of freedom.

Note: U denotes displacements in the X, Y, or Z direction in a global coordinate system, and R denotes
rotations around the axes.

Open Structure Type dialog window, which selects a structure type to be created, using either method:

Click Geometry menu > Structure Type.

Click .

NODAL DEGREES OF
STRUCTURES COORDINATES FREEDOM

2D frames UX , UY , - , - , - , RZ ,

X, Y

2D trusses UX , UY , - , - , - , - ,

X, Y

Grillages - , - , UZ , RX , RY , - ,

X, Y
 NODAL DEGREES OF
STRUCTURES COORDINATES FREEDOM

3D trusses UX , UY , UZ , - , - , - ,

X, Y, Z

3D frames UX , UY , UZ , RX , RY , RZ,

X, Y, Z

Plates - , - , UZ , RX , RY , - ,

X, Y

Shells UX , UY , UZ , RX , RY , RZ,

X, Y, Z

Plane stress structures UX , UY , - , - , - , - ,

 NODAL DEGREES OF
STRUCTURES COORDINATES FREEDOM

Plane deformation structures UX , UY , - , - , - , - ,

Axisymmetric structures UX , UY , - , - , - , - ,

Volumetric structures UX , UY , UZ , - , - , - ,

X, Y, Z

Note: Building is not a structure type, but a template which facilitates defining this
structure type. The available coordinates and nodal degrees of freedom for the building type are the same
as the ones for shells.
Note: For volumetric structures, you can define a 3D bar model (3D frame) or a shell structure. These
element types that can be used in volumetric structures have 6 degrees of freedom: UX, UY, UZ, RX, RY,
and RZ.

See also:

Options for generating a planar finite element mesh

Types of volumetric finite elements