You can use the Element Properties application to create, modify, delete, and show sets of properties associated with particular finite element types, and to assign these property sets to Geometry or FEM entities in your model. Some element types are a shell, beam, rod, and spring. Examples of element properties are the thickness of a shell, the spring constant for a spring, or an area for a bar element. Materials are element properties, and they are assigned to the model via element property set assignment.

The arrangement of element property options is unique for each analysis code and type. You will need to refer to your analysis code documentation for complete information about the supported options. Combinations of element property options are often given special element names within a particular analysis code implementation. For example, a commonly used element in MSC Nastran is the Standard Homogeneous Plate.This element results from choosing a combination of 2D, Shell, standard and homogeneous options, and quad4 topology on the Element Properties form.