In ideas help library, bookshelf open the File Formats Reference Guide under Miscellaneous.
In the contents window select Universal Datasets 2400 - 2499 and locate the one you require. In case you don't have access to help I include the required format (some lines may wrap)
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Universal Dataset Number 2412
Name: Elements
Status: Current
Owner: Simulation
Revision Date: 14-AUG-1992
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Record 1: FORMAT(6I10)
Field 1 -- element label
Field 2 -- fe descriptor id
Field 3 -- physical property table number
Field 4 -- material property table number
Field 5 -- color
Field 6 -- number of nodes on element
Record 2: *** FOR NON-BEAM ELEMENTS ***
FORMAT(8I10)
Fields 1-n -- node labels defining element
Record 2: *** FOR BEAM ELEMENTS ONLY ***
FORMAT(3I10)
Field 1 -- beam orientation node number
Field 2 -- beam fore-end cross section number
Field 3 -- beam aft-end cross section number
Record 3: *** FOR BEAM ELEMENTS ONLY ***
FORMAT(8I10)
Fields 1-n -- node labels defining element
Records 1 and 2 are repeated for each non-beam element in the model.
Records 1 - 3 are repeated for each beam element in the model.
Follow-up question:
I am trying to impose a periodic pressure load (with different phasing) on each face element of a fem. I have the I-DEAS help file which describes "Universal Dataset Number 790" with a Revision Date of 01-MAR-1998. The description does not define what a "time variation number" is, in Record 5. If zero or -1, the load is not time dependent, but what does a greater integer mean? The final example in the help file shows 1, 3, and 12 as other possible "time variation numbers".
Also, the pressure value is replaced by a "multiplier" in Record 4 if the load is time dependent. Is this a multiplier on the first load (and so of any magnitude), or on the load amplitude (and so a sinusoidal between 1 and -1), or something else? I looked for more information on the Internet without any applicable results. Is this Universal Dataset specific to I-DEAS or intended to work between systems? Thanks for any help!