# Equivalent Elastic Strain and Equivalent Plastic Strain

**URL:** <https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/equivalent-elastic-strain-and-equivalent-plastic-strain/3259>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [February 17, 2026, 10:20am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/equivalent-elastic-strain-and-equivalent-plastic-strain/3259 "2026-02-17T10:20:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![VictorJota](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/victorjota/32/684_2.png) [@VictorJota](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/VictorJota)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 10:20am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/equivalent-elastic-strain-and-equivalent-plastic-strain/3259/1 "2026-02-17T10:20:28Z")

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Hi everybody,

I don’t know if this has already been discussed, but I haven’t found any requests.

I think it would be a very important step forward to have a graphical output for Equivalent Elastic Strain, and Equivalent Plastic Strain, in the same way that one already exists for Equivalent Total Strain (TOSTRAIN = Equivalent Plastic + Equivalent Elastic)

 ![imagen](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/0/00d5d26c4ad7b30c1dd52250d1493fdc4f70da4f.jpeg)

By the way, could the reference units be included? ==\> **mm/mm**

Thanks

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**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 10:31am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/equivalent-elastic-strain-and-equivalent-plastic-strain/3259/2 "2026-02-17T10:31:13Z")

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As I’ve mentioned in your previous thread, equivalent plastic strain is already available as PEEQ (displayed as PE in the results). CalculiX doesn’t provide the elastic strain.

Since strain is dimensionless, it’s typically expressed as [-] or something similar (unless shown in %, but this isn’t used in postprocessors).

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**Author:** ![VictorJota](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/victorjota/32/684_2.png) [@VictorJota](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/VictorJota)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 10:50am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/equivalent-elastic-strain-and-equivalent-plastic-strain/3259/3 "2026-02-17T10:50:30Z")

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Hi,

> [@FEAnalyst](#):
>
> As I’ve mentioned in your previous thread, equivalent plastic strain is already available as PEEQ (displayed as PE in the results). CalculiX doesn’t provide the elastic strain.

I’m sorry, but I didn’t understand you

> [@FEAnalyst](#):
>
> Since strain is dimensionless, it’s typically expressed as [-] or something similar (unless shown in %, but this isn’t used in postprocessors).

In Ansys, for example, it is displayed in units consistent with the model.

 ![imagen](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/1/142d086054b33ad1b51fff0fc74895fcd29e57a7.png)

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 11:37am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/equivalent-elastic-strain-and-equivalent-plastic-strain/3259/4 "2026-02-17T11:37:31Z")

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Equivalent plastic strain can be requested here:

 ![PEEQ](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/4/4a8ee69881c5b69640160903c7ff5622fd36ee29.png)

and then it’s shown here:

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/8/8f8b348b7912b257f8cd18ea2d78074a875375fc.jpeg)

Also, keep in mind that you can create some custom field outputs this way (by entering equations operating on the existing outputs):

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/3/34e0770bd804754dfee0d9271048e47a94a0f48a.png)

> [@VictorJota](#):
>
> In Ansys, for example, it is displayed in units consistent with the model.

Ok, that makes sense too (even though the unitless display seems more common).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VictorJota](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/victorjota/32/684_2.png) [@VictorJota](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/VictorJota)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/equivalent-elastic-strain-and-equivalent-plastic-strain/3259/5 "2026-02-18T21:41:24Z")

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Hi FEAnalyst,

I am immensely grateful for your help. You always answer correctly…and quickly 😅