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Feature

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Feature mesh controls define the mesh density and quality of specific geometric features. These can be used to generate a high quality tria mesh on supported feature types.

Feature controls can be run standalone by right-clicking on the Feature folder and selecting the Mesh operation from the context menu. In this scenario:

If a feature global control only exists, on-the-fly selection is prompted.
If a feature body control only exists, it must have a pre-defined selection and on-the-fly selection is not allowed.
If both a feature global and body control exist, the body control will always be used and the global control will be ignored.

 

Feature controls can also be utilized along with other Surface Mesh controls by right-clicking on the Surface Mesh folder and selecting the Mesh operation from the context menu. In this scenario:

A surface mesh model control is required.
The selection strictly comes from the surface mesh model control, either as a pre-defined selection or on-the-fly.
Only the surface mesh model control selection that overlaps with any feature selection (including body or local controls) is considered.
Feature global control will always be ignored in this case.

 

It is recommended that feature controls be run standalone. Combined usage with other surface mesh controls may result in a non-conformal mesh.

hmtoggle_plus1greyGlobal and Body

Global mesh controls define the mesh for all geometry in the model, whereas body mesh controls define the mesh of selected local bodies.

 

Parameters


Parameter

Description

Average Element Size

The 2D element size in the model which controls the average element size.

Minimum Element Size

Minimum length of elements to generate in the mesh.

Coarse Mesh

Reduces the number of solid elements and the number of nodes. On an average, coarse mesh generates about 20 percent less nodes/elements compared to a regular volume mesher.

Use Maximum Element Size

Define the maximum element size instead of the average element size. Maximum element size = 1.4 * Average element size.

Only available for Global mesh controls.

 

Parameter

Description

Maximum Angle per Element

The approximation of a geometry is related to the angle made by an element edge on a perfect circle. For example, if the angle is 45 degrees this will approximate a circle by 8 elements. This same measurement is extended to an arbitrary curved surface.

Curvature Minimum Element Size

The mesh approximates the geometry by varying the mesh size as a function of the curvature. This geometry approximation cannot result in a mesh size smaller than the Curvature minimum element size.  

 

Parameter

Description

Aspect Ratio

Determines the quality of the mesh. The value varies from 1 (equilateral element) to infinity (flat element). The default aspect ratio value is 10.

Mesh Grading

The variation of the mesh in the face from the boundary to the interior is controlled by the surface mesh grading. The default value is 1.5.

 

Parameter

Description

Element Type

Use Tria3 or Tria6 elements to create mesh.

Project Mid-node

Enables the projection of mid-nodes onto the faces and edges of the geometry.

Mesh Pattern

Determines the mesh pattern.

Auto determines the faces that will be isomeshed automatically. All regular four edged faces and faces that are four sided will be isomeshed.
Regular 4-Sided Faces isomeshes all regular four edged faces, even if the edges are not of similar size.
None forces a free mesh on all faces in the body, even if it is a regular four edged face.

 

 

hmtoggle_plus1greyCylinder

Cylinder mesh controls define the mesh both axially and in circular direction on selected cylindrical surfaces.

mesh_control_feature_cylinder

Parameters


Parameter

Description

Axial Mesh Size

Defines the element size along the length of the selected cylindrical faces.

Divisions

The number of nodes along the circular direction of the cylindrical face can be controlled by specifying the number of circular mesh seeds.

 

hmtoggle_plus1greyEdge

Edge mesh controls define the mesh on an edge.

 

Parameters


Parameter

Description

Divisions

Edge seeds are applied by specifying the number of elements.

 

hmtoggle_plus1greyFace

Face mesh controls define the mesh on the selected local faces. A uniform mesh is generated on the face that has the face mesh control specified. The curvature is ignored.

 

Parameters


Parameter

Description

Average Element Size

The 2D element size in the model which controls the average element size.

Minimum Element Size

Minimum length of elements to generate in the mesh.

 

Parameter

Description

Maximum Angle per Element

The approximation of a geometry is related to the angle made by an element edge on a perfect circle. For example, if the angle is 45 degrees this will approximate a circle by 8 elements. This same measurement is extended to an arbitrary curved surface.

Curvature Minimum Element Size

The mesh approximates the geometry by varying the mesh size as a function of the curvature. This geometry approximation cannot result in a mesh size smaller than the Curvature minimum element size.  

 

Parameter

Description

Aspect Ratio

Determines the quality of the mesh. The value varies from 1 (equilateral element) to infinity (flat element). The default aspect ratio value is 10.

Mesh Grading

The variation of the mesh in the face from the boundary to the interior is controlled by the surface mesh grading. The default value is 1.5.

Use Local

Uses the local settings when enabled. The settings from the global control will be used when disabled.

 

 

hmtoggle_plus1greyFillet

Fillet mesh controls define the mesh over fillets along the length and the curve direction. You can apply fillet mesh controls to selected faces or bodies.

mesh_control_feature_fillet

Parameters


Parameter

Description

Length Along Fillet

Defines the element length along the length of the fillet.      

 

Parameter

Description

Specification

Defines the element size along the fillet curvature direction.

Number enables the Number of Elements option to explicitly indicate the number of elements along the curvature direction.
Curvature enables the Maximum Angle per Element and Curvature Minimum Element Size options for defining the mesh based on these values.

 

Parameter

Description

Ignore Fillet Width Less Than

Specifies the minimum fillet width to consider.  Fillets with a width below this value are ignored.

Aspect Ratio

Determines the quality of the mesh. The value varies from 1 (equilateral element) to infinity (flat element). The default aspect ratio value is 10.

Merge Small Fillets

Merges adjacent small fillets before meshing in order to improve the mesh quality.

Adjust Axial Length to Aspect Ratio

Adjusts the length along the fillet to make sure that the aspect ratio is satisfied.

 

 

hmtoggle_plus1greyImprint Circle

Imprint circle mesh controls create a circular edge on a face with specified radius and seeds.

 

Parameters


Parameter

Description

Radius

Calculated using radius and scale factor values.

Scale

Scales the user defined radius by this factor.

Divisions

Number of seeds along the circle.

 

Parameter

Description

Circle Center

Defines the center of the circular edge.

 

 

hmtoggle_plus1greyIsoline

Isoline mesh controls place mapped mesh on cylindrical/conical faces that are trimmed. The mapped mesh is created for a given size/seed in axial and circular directions.

 

Parameters


Parameter

Description

Specification

Defines the given size/seed in axial and circular directions to create the mapped mesh.

 

Parameter

Description

Specification

The number of nodes along the circular direction can be controlled by using maximum angle or mesh seeds.

The maximum angle refers to the angle subtended by a circular spanning element edge from the axis of cylindrical face.

Merge Faces

Merges selected faces to a single face. Use this parameter to avoid the creation of a thin layer of elements when meshing.

 

Parameter

Description

Aspect Ratio

Determines the quality of the mesh. The value varies from 1 (equilateral element) to infinity (flat element). The default aspect ratio value is 10.

Curvature Minimum Element Size

The mesh approximates the geometry by varying the mesh size as a function of the curvature. This geometry approximation cannot result in a mesh size smaller than the Curvature minimum element size.  

 

 

hmtoggle_plus1greyPreserved Entity

Preserved Entity mesh controls define the features to preserve while meshing. Tiny features on edges or surfaces may be collapsed if the minimum element size is larger than the feature.  Entities selected here will be preserved from such collapsing.

 

hmtoggle_plus1greySymmetry

Symmetry mesh controls are used to get identical mesh between the master face and symmetry face. If there are any discontinuous edges, select three nodes/vertices for both the master and symmetry face.

 

Parameters


Parameter

Description

Master Surface

Defines the surface to considered as the master/source for reflecting the mesh.

Symmetry Surface

Defines the surface to considered as the slave/target for reflecting the mesh.

Master Points

Defines points on the Master surface to be mapped in case there are any discontinuous edges.

Symmetry Points

Defines points on the Symmetry surface to be mapped in case there are any discontinuous edges.

 

hmtoggle_plus1greyWasher

Washer mesh controls define rings around a circle. The circle has to be inside of a face.

mesh_control_feature_washer

Parameters


Parameter

Description

Washer Width

Define the width of the washer around the circle.

Number of Layers

Defines the number of mesh layers to create around the circle.