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# 32.6.7 TWO-DIMENSIONAL GASKET ELEMENT LIBRARY

Products: Abaqus/Standard Abaqus/CAE

# References

• “Gasket elements: overview,” Section 32.6.1   
• “Choosing a gasket element,” Section 32.6.2   
• \*GASKET SECTION

# Overview

This section provides a reference to the two-dimensional gasket elements available in Abaqus/Standard.

# Element types

# Link elements

GK2D2 2-node, two-dimensional gasket element GK2D2N 2-node, two-dimensional gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only

Active degrees of freedom

1 for gasket elements with thickness-direction behavior only.   
1, 2 for other gasket elements.

Additional solution variables

# General elements

<table><tr><td>GKPS4</td><td>4-node, plane stress gasket element</td></tr><tr><td>GKPE4</td><td>4-node, plane strain gasket element</td></tr><tr><td>GKPS4N</td><td>4-node, two-dimensional gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only</td></tr><tr><td>GKPS6</td><td>6-node, plane stress gasket element</td></tr><tr><td>GKPE6</td><td>6-node, plane strain gasket element</td></tr><tr><td>GKPS6N</td><td>6-node, two-dimensional gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only</td></tr></table>

Active degrees of freedom

1 for gasket elements with thickness-direction behavior only.   
1, 2 for other gasket elements.

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Additional solution variables

None.

# Nodal coordinates required

X,Y

# Element property definition

You must define the element’s cross-sectional area (for link elements) or out-of-plane width (for general elements), initial gap, and initial void.

You can specify the thickness direction as part of the gasket section definition or by specifying a normal direction at the nodes; you can specify the element thickness as part of the gasket section definition. Otherwise, Abaqus/Standard will calculate the thickness direction. For link elements the thickness direction is the direction from the first to the second node and the thickness is the distance between the nodes. For general elements the thickness direction is based on the midsurface of the element and the thicknesses at the integration points are based on the nodal positions. See “Defining the gasket element’s initial geometry,” Section 32.6.4, for more details.

Input File Usage: \*GASKET SECTION

Abaqus/CAE Usage: Property module: Create Section: select Other as the section Category and Gasket as the section Type

# Element-based loading

None.

# Element output

# GK2D2 elements

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure or thickness-direction force in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>CS11</td><td>Contact pressure in the gasket element (only available if S11 is the force in the gasket element and the gasket response is not defined using a material model).</td></tr><tr><td>S12</td><td>Shear stress or shear force.</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>E12</td><td>Shear motion if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>NE12</td><td>Effective shear strain in the gasket element.</td></tr></table>

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GK2D2N elements 

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure or thickness-direction force in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>CS11</td><td>Contact pressure in the gasket element (only available if S11 is the force in the gasket element and the gasket response is not defined using a material model).</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr></table>

General elements with thickness-direction behavior only 

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr></table>

Other general elements 

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>S22</td><td>Direct membrane stress.</td></tr><tr><td>S33</td><td>Direct membrane stress (only available for plane strain elements).</td></tr><tr><td>S12</td><td>Shear stress.</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>E22</td><td>Direct membrane strain.</td></tr><tr><td>E33</td><td>Direct membrane strain (only available for plane strain elements).</td></tr><tr><td>E12</td><td>Shear motion if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>NE22</td><td>Direct membrane strain.</td></tr><tr><td>NE33</td><td>Direct membrane strain (only available for plane strain elements).</td></tr><tr><td>NE12</td><td>Effective shear strain.</td></tr></table>

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# Link elements

![](images/page-964_efacc43f6ff760e630585a95b2170fc4a9b925bf994fa1c335939a8582be0502.jpg)

<details>
<summary>text_image</summary>

1
2
</details>

2 - node element

# General elements

![](images/page-964_0dc33b6cb85872e4e84d72582d07cb1bdd3fffd3ca1dba0a29f95ea29b3b2827.jpg)

<details>
<summary>text_image</summary>

3
4
1
2
</details>

4 - node element

![](images/page-964_1fa6557592f042d815f14bd8639862c411e87efbf64c5d7747cde9f2309ed241.jpg)

<details>
<summary>text_image</summary>

4
5
6
×
×
×
1
2
3
</details>

6 - node element

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# 32.6.8 THREE-DIMENSIONAL GASKET ELEMENT LIBRARY

Products: Abaqus/Standard Abaqus/CAE

# References

• “Gasket elements: overview,” Section 32.6.1   
• “Choosing a gasket element,” Section 32.6.2   
• \*GASKET SECTION

# Overview

This section provides a reference to the three-dimensional gasket elements available in Abaqus/Standard.

# Element types

# Link elements

GK3D2 2-node, three-dimensional gasket element GK3D2N 2-node, three-dimensional gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only

Active degrees of freedom

1 for gasket elements with thickness-direction behavior only.   
1, 2, 3 for other gasket elements.

Additional solution variables

# Line elements

GK3D4L 4-node, three-dimensional line gasket element GK3D4LN 4-node, three-dimensional line gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only GK3D6L 6-node, three-dimensional line gasket element GK3D6LN 6-node, three-dimensional line gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only

Active degrees of freedom

1 for gasket elements with thickness-direction behavior only.   
1, 2, 3 for other gasket elements.

Additional solution variables

None.

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Area elements 

<table><tr><td>GK3D6</td><td>6-node, three-dimensional gasket element</td></tr><tr><td>GK3D6N</td><td>6-node, three-dimensional gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only</td></tr><tr><td>GK3D8</td><td>8-node, three-dimensional gasket element</td></tr><tr><td>GK3D8N</td><td>8-node, three-dimensional gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only</td></tr><tr><td>GK3D12M</td><td>12-node, three-dimensional gasket element</td></tr><tr><td>GK3D12MN</td><td>12-node, three-dimensional gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only</td></tr><tr><td>GK3D18</td><td>18-node, three-dimensional gasket element</td></tr><tr><td>GK3D18N</td><td>18-node, three-dimensional gasket element with thickness-direction behavior only</td></tr></table>

# Active degrees of freedom

1 for gasket elements with thickness-direction behavior only.   
1, 2, 3 for other gasket elements.

# Additional solution variables

None.

# Nodal coordinates required

X,Y,Z

# Element property definition

You must define the element’s initial gap and initial void, as well as the cross-sectional area (for link elements) or width (for line elements).

You can specify the thickness direction as part of the gasket section definition or by specifying a normal direction at the nodes; you can specify the element thickness as part of the gasket section definition. Otherwise, Abaqus/Standard will calculate the thickness direction and the thickness. For link elements the thickness direction is the direction from the first to the second node and the thickness is the distance between the nodes. For line elements the thickness direction is the direction from the bottom node to the top node associated with the integration point and the thicknesses are the distances between these same bottom and top nodes. For area elements the thickness direction is based on the midsurface of the element and the thicknesses at the integration points are based on the nodal positions. See “Defining the gasket element’s initial geometry,” Section 32.6.4, for more details.

Input File Usage: \*GASKET SECTION

Abaqus/CAE Usage: Property module: Create Section: select Other as the section Category and Gasket as the section Type

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# Element-based loading

None.

# Element output

GK3D2 elements 

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure or thickness-direction force in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>CS11</td><td>Contact pressure in the gasket element (only available if S11 is a force and the gasket response is not defined using a material model).</td></tr><tr><td>S12</td><td>Shear stress or shear force.</td></tr><tr><td>S13</td><td>Shear stress or shear force.</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>E12</td><td>Shear motion if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>E13</td><td>Shear motion if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>NE12</td><td>Effective shear strain.</td></tr><tr><td>NE13</td><td>Effective shear strain.</td></tr></table>

GK3D2N elements 

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure or thickness-direction force in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>CS11</td><td>Contact pressure in the gasket element (only available if S11 is a force and the gasket response is not defined using a material model.)</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr></table>

Line elements with thickness-direction behavior only 

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure or thickness-direction force per unit length in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>CS11</td><td>Contact pressure in the gasket element (only available if S11 is a force per unit length and the gasket response is not defined using a material model).</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr></table>

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Other line elements 

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure or thickness-direction force per unit length in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>CS11</td><td>Contact pressure in the gasket element (only available if S11 is a force per unit length and the gasket response is not defined using a material model).</td></tr><tr><td>S22</td><td>Direct membrane stress.</td></tr><tr><td>S12</td><td>Shear stress or shear force per unit length.</td></tr><tr><td>S13</td><td>Shear stress or shear force per unit length.</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>E22</td><td>Direct membrane strain.</td></tr><tr><td>E12</td><td>Shear motion if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>E13</td><td>Shear motion if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>NE22</td><td>Direct membrane strain.</td></tr><tr><td>NE12</td><td>Effective shear strain.</td></tr><tr><td>NE13</td><td>Effective shear strain.</td></tr></table>

Area elements with thickness-direction behavior only 

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr></table>

Other area elements 

<table><tr><td>S11</td><td>Pressure in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>S22</td><td>Direct membrane stress.</td></tr><tr><td>S33</td><td>Direct membrane stress.</td></tr><tr><td>S12</td><td>Transverse shear stress.</td></tr><tr><td>S13</td><td>Transverse shear stress.</td></tr><tr><td>S23</td><td>Membrane shear stress.</td></tr><tr><td>E11</td><td>Gasket closure if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>E22</td><td>Direct membrane strain.</td></tr><tr><td>E33</td><td>Direct membrane strain.</td></tr></table>

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<table><tr><td>E12</td><td>Transverse shear motion if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>E13</td><td>Transverse shear motion if the gasket response is defined directly using a gasket behavior model; strain if the gasket response is defined using a material model.</td></tr><tr><td>E23</td><td>Membrane shear strain.</td></tr><tr><td>NE11</td><td>Effective thickness-direction strain in the gasket element.</td></tr><tr><td>NE22</td><td>Direct membrane strain.</td></tr><tr><td>NE33</td><td>Direct membrane strain.</td></tr><tr><td>NE12</td><td>Effective shear strain.</td></tr><tr><td>NE13</td><td>Effective shear strain.</td></tr><tr><td>NE12</td><td>Membrane shear strain.</td></tr></table>

# Node ordering and face numbering on elements

# Link elements

![](images/page-969_499446ca7b32c17f95c43ccfe87b56dd818708f3b58c2a7eb496e0718e2df839.jpg)

<details>
<summary>natural_image</summary>

Simple line diagram with two labeled points (1 and 2) connected by a straight line (no text or symbols beyond labels)
</details>

2 - node element

# Line elements

![](images/page-969_ee38b024bb9ea96823276d4f7c45ade45c69235a9c56ab9588eb1e8eec843abd.jpg)

<details>
<summary>natural_image</summary>

Simple geometric diagram of a rectangle with vertices labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4 (no additional text or symbols)
</details>

4 - node element

![](images/page-969_6c601239c2de1922c15cc5b53eb14e7793c1dfda57394d7cae23dfc9b5f58aee.jpg)

<details>
<summary>flowchart</summary>

```mermaid
graph TD
    1 --> 2
    2 --> 3
    3 --> 4
    4 --> 5
    5 --> 6
    6 --> 1
```
</details>

6 - node element

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# Area elements

![](images/page-970_e55c0ac15c600cf18aa439d9e92d1818b71194cd4b7f6d38ce860e39858bb0ae.jpg)

<details>
<summary>flowchart</summary>

```mermaid
graph TD
    1 --> 2
    2 --> 3
    3 --> 4
    4 --> 5
    5 --> 6
    6 --> 1
    2 -->|face 2 (SNEG)| 5
    5 -->|face 1 (SPOS)| 4
    6 -->|face 1 (SPOS)| 1
```
</details>

6 - node element

![](images/page-970_548f50c2a6bcc2fbef908b1f96140409c2f30d18ceb31a0791fb31f2d7ba6608.jpg)

<details>
<summary>flowchart</summary>

```mermaid
graph TD
    A["1"] --> B["4"]
    B --> C["8"]
    C --> D["2"]
    D --> E["5"]
    E --> F["3"]
    F --> G["11"]
    G --> H["6"]
    H --> I["10"]
    I --> J["7"]
    J --> K["12"]
    K --> L["9"]
    L --> M["face 1 (SPOS)"]
    D --> N["face 2 (SNEG)"]
    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style B fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style C fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style E fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style F fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style G fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style H fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style I fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style J fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style K fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style L fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style M fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
```
</details>

12 - node element

![](images/page-970_3ad916ca8f0388658c02946fe225ee6d1e6f41b4f4bda6f3b59fa5f06f764ec3.jpg)

<details>
<summary>text_image</summary>

face 1 (SPOS)
8
7
4
3
5
6
1
2
face 2 (SNEG)
</details>

8 - node element

![](images/page-970_1a7967862cde6da504c84f844ac53246dbc38643c8f184a9b80ec13db56a6065.jpg)

<details>
<summary>text_image</summary>

face 1 (SPOS)
12
15
11
14
10
16
7
18
3
4
13
6
9
17
2
8
5
1
face 2 (SNEG)
</details>

18 - node element

# 6-node element

Face 1 (SPOS) 4 – 6 – 5 face

Face 2 (SNEG) 1 – 2 – 3 face

# 8-node element

Face 1 (SPOS) 5 – 8 – 7 – 6 face

Face 2 (SNEG) 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 face
