Comparison of different finite element types for structural modal analysis

Many different element types can be chosen in modern commercial finite element tools depending on the problem to solve. Benchmark tests are a common method to prove the elements' performance against analytical solutions. However, these tests are often realized only for single element types. When investigating the complete mesh of a structure the comparison of the element's performance is quite challenging due to the lack of closed or fully converged solutions. The main goal is to simulate the behavior of a real structure as good as possible because a closed solution only represents the behavior of the underlying mathematical model. In this paper, we will present element performance investigations using the commercial code ABAQUS. Performance of finite element types is investigated by testing convergence of the numerical solution and comparing to experimental results.