3D, 8 noded, User element, UEL

[DaVinci]

Greetings

I am starting off with an attempt to code up a basic user element (the same as a 3D 8-noded brick element in a UEL.

I have a few questions:
Do I have to include shape functions in my coding?
Do I have to include Gauss Quadrature in my coding?
Is there any way to view an example 3D element formulation for abaqus? (any references)

I will start from here, and eventually lead to a reduced stiffness matrix formulation, similar to hybrid element. (this is for dof reduction, not for incompressibility, though I will have to incorporate incompressibility as well)

Kind Regards
Y.Kajee (Davinci)

[DaVinci]

I will now answer these questions:

Do I have to include shape functions in my coding?
-YES

Do I have to include Gauss Quadrature in my coding?
-YES

Is there any way to view an example 3D element formulation for abaqus? (any references)
-a quick google search shows some freely available examples. The Abaqus documentation has a few examples as well.

Peace
YK (DaVinci)

[Jorgen]

Thanks for the update