# 4.2.1.1. zeroLength Element¶

element('zeroLength', eleTag, *eleNodes, '-mat', *matTags, '-dir', *dirs, <'-doRayleigh', rFlag=0>, <'-orient', *vecx, *vecyp>)

This command is used to construct a zeroLength element object, which is defined by two nodes at the same location. The nodes are connected by multiple UniaxialMaterial objects to represent the force-deformation relationship for the element.

 eleTag (int) unique element object tag eleNodes (list (int)) a list of two element nodes matTags (list (int)) a list of tags associated with previously-defined UniaxialMaterials dirs (list (int)) a list of material directions: 1,2,3 - translation along local x,y,z axes, respectively; 4,5,6 - rotation about local x,y,z axes, respectively rFlag (float) optional, default = 0 NO RAYLEIGH DAMPING (default), 1 include Rayleigh damping vecx (list (float)) a list of vector components in global coordinates defining local x-axis (optional) vecyp (list (float)) a list of vector components in global coordinates defining vector yp which lies in the local x-y plane for the element. (optional)

Note

If the optional orientation vectors are not specified, the local element axes coincide with the global axes. Otherwise the local z-axis is defined by the cross product between the vectors x and yp vectors specified on the command line.