Formulation　of　a　partition　of　unity　(PU)　based　four-node　tetrahedral　element　with　continuous　nodal　stress　(Tetr4-CNS)　and　its　applications　to　the　analysis　of　linear　elasticity　problems　in　three-dimension　are　presented　in　this　paper.　By　simply　using　the　same　mesh　as　the　classical　tetrahedral　element　(Tetr4),　Tetr4-CNS　element　is　able　to　obtain　continuous　nodal　stress　without　recourse　to　stress　smoothing　operation　in　the　post-processing　process,　and　to　construct　high　order　global　approximation　without　adding　extra　nodes　or　nodal　DOFs.　Moreover,　it　is　free　from　the　linear　dependence　problem　which　cripples　many　of　the　PU-based　methods,　A　series　of　numerical　tests　are　carried　out　to　evaluate　the　performance　of　the　Tetr4-CNS　element.　The　numerical　results　show　that　accuracy　through　the　proposed　element　is　superior　to　that　through　Tetr4　element　and　eight-node　hexahedral　element　(Hexa8).　More　importantly,　the　proposed　element　has　excellent　mesh　distortion　tolerant　capabilities.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.