Zero Length Ele has L=56.56 which is greater than tolerance?

[mannyh]

Hello,
I am getting the blow message for my Zero Length Element.
"WARNING:: ZeroLength:setDomain<>: Element 10 has L=56.5685 which is greater than the tolerance."
What does L represent and does anyone know what might correct this error?
Thanks!

[fmk]

you can ignore the message .. zerolength elements typically have 0 length, yours just has some length. the strain sent to the materials is the difference in nodal displacements, there is no length factor.

[andreascj]

hi fmk,
but Dr. Silivia in following post requests not to put zero length element between two nodes with different coordinates.

[url]http://opensees.berkeley.edu/community/ ... hp?t=12347&
highlight=zero+length+element[/url]

why? is there any disadvantage in doing so? because you have said that we can ignore such message.

[andreascj]

furthermore I just checked one of my very simple models with zero length element. having same coordinate and different coordinates give same results. however i m afraid to use it in a large model. please clarify if these warnings are dangerous.

[fmk]

ignore the warnings .. they are there to warn people who attach two incorrect nodes .. all the element is doing is setting the in the materials to be the difference in nodal displacements, and the element end forces being the resulting stresses from the materials, i.e. no length effect like the truss.

[andreascj]

got it. thanks