Use the Element Cleanup panel to perform automatic cleanup of 2D elements based on the element quality criteria from the Quality Index panel or a separate criteria file.
The cleanup process is automated, but the panel includes many options to affect how it behaves and the types of problems it will attempt to clean up.
There are no subpanels on the Element Cleanup panel. All inputs and command buttons are located on the main panel.
Input |
Action |
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fix folded elems, |
Sometimes mesh can get "folded" in such a way that multiple elements occupy nearly the same space. Use this option to combine such elements and simplify the mesh, based on the angle between them. In this case, 180 degrees would indicate two elements occupying the same space, so the number used should be close to (but less than) 180. |
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reduce tria elems |
When active, this option attempts to combine trias into quads. If you also use fix elems failing QI check, the tria reduction will be tempered by the constraints on the resulting quads. |
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keep surf edges |
This is a sub-setting of reduce tria elems. Use this setting to preserve clean, straight feature lines resulting from model geometry (it does not preserve mesh-only feature lines). Disabling this option can result in a "zig-zag" effect on geometry feature lines. |
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QI smooth elems with target = |
When this option is active, the selected elements are smoothed until they reach the composite Quality Index value that you specify in this text box. |
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fix elems failing QI check |
When active, this option limits other options by examining whether or not the resulting elements would fail your QI criteria. For example, using tria reduction with this option activated might result in fewer trias being removed, but better overall mesh quality. |
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use surrounding elems |
Enabling this option expands your selection to include additional surrounding elements. This allows it more freedom to reduce localized distortion, but could result in reduced quality of nearby high-quality mesh. |
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use current criteria / criteria file= |
Use this toggle to specify the set of element quality criteria you wish to base the cleanup on. If you choose criteria file=, you must click load to browse to and select the file. The default setting of current criteria refers to the criteria specified on the Quality Index panel. |
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keep connectivity with 1D/3D |
When active, 2D elements that are shared with 1D/3D elements before cleanup should be preserved during cleanup. |
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feature angle < |
On feature lines with greater angles than this, element cleanup of nodes on the feature lines will only move long the lines. Nodes on feature lines below this angle threshold can be moved in any direction, which may cause jagged features.
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Command Buttons
The following action buttons appear:
Button |
Action |
edit criteria |
Use this button to open the criteria file editor window. This allows you to change the criteria as you see fit. |
cleanup |
Perform the cleanup on the selected elements, using the currently specified settings. |
reject |
Reverts the most recent cleanup operation, provided that you have not left the panel in the meantime. |
return |
Exit the panel. |