Function
- Create elements by extruding a node to a line element, a line element to a planar element and planar element to a solid element.
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Extrude Elements performs the following 3 functions
1. Create line elements along the line path taken by the motion of nodes.
2. Create planar elements along the surface path taken by the motion of line elements.
3. Create solid elements along the volumetric path taken by the motion of planar elements.
Call
From the main menu, select [Node/Element] tab > [Element Detail] group > [Edit Elements] > [Extrude]
Shortcut key: [Alt]+5
Input
Extrude Elements dialog box
Click 
to the right of Extrude Elements
Display the Element Table.
Start Number
Node Number
Assign a starting number of the nodes automatically created in the element generation process. This number is auto-set to the largest node number in use +1. To modify this item, click and select an option to specify a desired number.
Element Number
Assign a new starting element number for new elements being created by copy. This number is auto-set to the largest element number in use +1. To modify this item, click and select an option to specify a desired number.
Extrude Type
Select the conversion mode of nodes or elements into the next higher level elements.
Node -> Line Element
Create line elements along the line path taken by the motion of nodes.
Line Elem. -> Planar Elem.
Create planar elements along the surface path taken by the motion of line elements.
Planar Elem. -> Solid Elem.
Create solid elements along the volumetric path taken by the motion of planar elements.
Source
Remove : After executing Extrude, remove the original nodes/elements.
Move : After executing Extrude, move the original nodes/elements to the final positions of the extruded elements.
Reverse I - J
If Node 
Line Element is selected in Extrude Type, the Local Direction of the line elements created by Extrude is reversed to the Generation direction.
Element Attribute
Element Type
Assign the type of newly created elements.
Line Element : Truss, Beam, Tension, Compression... etc.
Planar Element : Plate, Plane Stress, Plane Strain, Axisymmetric... etc.
Solid Element : Solid
Material
Select a material property number, or select a material property name provided that the material property data have been already defined. Click to add, inquire, modify or delete material property data. Material properties can be entered either before or after creating elements.
Section (or Thickness)
Select a section (thickness) number, or select a section (thickness) name provided that the section (thickness) data have been already defined. Click to add, inquire, modify or delete the section (thickness) data. Section data can be entered either before or after creating elements.
Beta Angle
Specify beta angle for newly created line elements extruded from nodes.
Type
Assign a type of planar elements (thin/thick) for newly created elements extruded from line elements.
Generation Type
Select the method of generating elements via extrude.
Translate
Select Translate when creating elements by copying (translating) and extruding existing nodes or elements at equal or unequal distances.
Equal Distance : To translate at equal spacings
dx, dy, dz : Translation distance in each axis direction
To enter the translation distance, type in each distance, or click the entry field and assign the translation distance in the working window with the mouse.
Number of Times : Number of times to copy
Unequal Distance : To translate at unequal spacings
Axis : Assign translation directions.
x : Copy at unequal distances in UCS x-direction.
y : Copy at unequal distances in UCS y-direction.
z : Copy at unequal distances in UCS z-direction.
Arbitrary : To copy at unequal distances in a specified direction
Distances : Enter unequal copy distances in the specified direction as many times as desired.
(Ex. 5, 3, 4.1, 3@5.0, 4 = 5, 3, 4.1, 5.0, 5.0, 5.0, 4)
Direction Vector : Enter the direction vector components in each of the x, y, z-directions.
Local Direction : To copy line element in the direction of a local element coordinate axis
Equal : To copy at equal spacings
Number of Times : Number of Times to copy
Distance : Copy spacing
Direction : Extrude direction (ECS: +y/-y, +z/-z)
Unequal : To copy at unequal spacings
Distance : Unequal copy spacings (Ex. 5.3, 4.5, 3@5.0 = 5.3, 4.5, 5.0, 5.0, 5.0)
Direction : Extrude direction (ECS: +y/-y, +z/-z)
Thickness : Assign Thickness when plane elements are copied in the thickness direction.
Equal : To copy at equal spacing (thicknesses)
Number of Times : Number of Times to copy
Thickness : Copy spacing (thicknesses)
Direction : Extrude direction (ECS: +y/-y, +z/-z)
Unequal : To copy an unequal spacing (thicknesses)
Thickness : Unequal copy spacings (thicknesses)
(Ex. 5.3, 4.5, 3@5.0 = 5.3, 4.5, 5.0, 5.0, 5.0)
Direction : Extrude direction (ECS: +y/-y, +z/-z)
Rotate : Select Rotate when creating elements by rotating existing nodes or elements at equal or unequal angles.
Equal Angle : To copy at equal angle
Number of Times : Number of times to copy
Angle of Rotation : Angle by which the existing elements are rotated
>0 : Copy by rotation according to the right hand rule
<0 : Copy by rotation in the direction opposite to the right hand rule
Unequal : To copy an unequal angle
Angle : Unequal angle increments (ex : 20, 10, 3@30, 15 = 20, 10, 30, 30, 30, 15)
Distances (radial, axial) :
Specify distances in radial and rotational axis directions when copying elements by rotating them by a given rotational angle (spiral or helical curve shape).
Axis of Rotation : Assign the axis of rotation.
x-axis : UCS x-axis
y-axis : UCS y-axis
z-axis : UCS z-axis
Axis defined by 2 points : A line connecting two points defining the axis of rotation (direction from the 1st to the 2nd point)
1st point : (x, y, z) coordinates of the 1st point on the axis of rotation
2nd point : (x, y, z) coordinates of the 2nd point on the axis of rotation
Project
Select Project when creating elements by projecting existing nodes or elements on a line or a surface.
Projection Type
Select the geometrical shape of a Projection Base.
The types of projection bases are as follows :
Project on a line
Project on a plane
Project on a cylinder
Project on a cone
Project on a sphere
Project on an ellipsoid
Project on an element
Base Line Definition
Enter the data necessary to define a projection base as follows :
All the data can be directly typed in on the keyboard. Alternatively, click the relevant entry fields and the nodes (related data) defining the base in the working window.
Project on a line
P1 : Coordinates of a point located on the Base Line
P2 : Coordinates of another point located on the Base Line
Project on a plane
P1 : Coordinates of a point located on the Base Plane
P2 : Coordinates of another point located on the Base Plane
P3 : Coordinates of a 3rd point located on the Base Plane
Project on a cylinder
P1 : Coordinates of a point located on the central axis of the Base Cylinder
P2 : Coordinates of another point located on the central axis of the Base Cylinder
Radius : Radius of the Base Cylinder
Project on a cone
P1 : Coordinates of a point located on the central axis of the Base Cone
P2 : Base Coordinates of another point located on the central axis of the Base Cone
Radius 1 : Radius of the Base Cylinder at position P1
Radius 2 : Radius of the Base Cylinder at position P2
Project on a sphere
Origin : Coordinates of the center of the Base Sphere
Radius : Radius of the Base Sphere
Project on an ellipsoid
P1 : Coordinates of the center of the Base Ellipsoid's bottom surface
P2 : Coordinates of the top of the Base Ellipsoid
Radius : Radius of the circle at the bottom surface of the Base Ellipsoid
Project on an element
Element Number : Plate element number (Plane stress element, plate element, etc.)
Direction
Assign the projection direction for the line or surface of the defined projection base.
Normal : Projection direction normal to the line or surface of the projection base
Direction Vector : Projection in an arbitrary direction. Enter each of the x, y, z vector components in the projection direction. Use either the keyboard or the mouse to assign the vector.
Divide
Create additional elements in between the existing nodes and projected nodes along the lines of projection at either equal or unequal spacings.
Equal : Equal spacing
Number of Divisions : Number of equal spacings
Parametric Unequal : Unequal spacings defined in terms of distance ratios
Ratio : Locations of division along the total projection length expressed in terms of distance ratios (ex: 0.4, 0.6, 0.9)
Merging Tolerance
Specify a merging tolerance to merge newly created nodes and existing nodes.