The Linear Elastic Material node adds the equations for a linear elastic truss element, and an interface for defining the elastic material properties.

By adding the following subnodes to the Linear Elastic Material node you can incorporate many other effects:

Define the linear elastic material properties. These settings are the same as described under Linear Elastic Material for the beam interface.

In this section there is always one check box. Either Force linear strains or Include geometric nonlinearity is shown.

If a study step is geometrically nonlinear, the default behavior is to use a large strain formulation for all boundaries or edges. There are however some cases when you would still want to use a small strain formulation in a part of the structure. In those cases, select the Force linear strains check box. When selected, a small strain formulation is always used, independently of the setting in the study step. The default value is that the check box is cleared, except when opening a model created in a version prior to 4.3. In this case the state is chosen so that the properties of the model are conserved.

The Include geometric nonlinearity check box is displayed only if the model was created in a version prior to 4.3, and geometric nonlinearity was originally used for the selected boundaries or edges. It is then selected and forces the Include geometric nonlinearity check box in the study step to be selected. If the check box is cleared, the check box is permanently removed and the study step assumes control over the selection of geometric nonlinearity.

Select the Calculate dissipated energy check box as needed to compute the energy dissipated by Plasticity.

Physics tab with Truss selected: