Article ID: 188 - Difference between node values and element values Page 1 of 2

Difference between node values and element values

Article ID: 188

Applies to: COSMOSWorks, COSMOSDesignSTAR, COSMOSM
Version: All versions
Category: Postprocessing, general
Created: 07/07/2000
Last Revised: 07/07/2000
Discussion
Stress results are first calculated at special points, called Gaussian or Quadrature points, located inside
each element. These points are selected to give optimal results, and the number of Gauss points per
element depends on the element type (shell, solid, etc...).
The program calculates stresses at the nodes of each element by extrapolating the results available at the
Gaussian points:

After a successful run, nodal stress results at each node of every element should be available in the
database. Consequently, multiple results are available at nodes common to two or more elements. These
results will not be identical because the finite element method is an approximate method. For example, if a
node is common to three elements, there can be 3 slightly different values for every stress component at
that node. During result visualization, you may ask for element stresses or nodal stresses.

In calculating nodal stresses at a node, the program averages the corresponding results from all elements
contributing to the stresses at that node. For example:

In calculating element stresses, the program averages the corresponding nodal stresses for each
element. Using the same example:

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Article ID: 188 - Difference between node values and element values Page 2 of 2

Important Note:

Due to the different methods of averaging, the maximum values obtained from the Element
values and Nodal values will be different. In the example above, the maximum for the node
stresses is 5 whereas the maximum for the element stresses is 5.66.
If your mesh is coarse compared to the rate of variation of results, then the maximum of the
element values and the maximum of the node values will be very different.
Comparing the maximum of the element values and the maximum of the node values will give you
an idea of how coarse your mesh is in the maximum stress concentration zone.

mk:@MSITStore:C:\Users\Anthony%20Botting\Documents\Work\SimulationTechSpt\Kn... 7/29/2010