Mesh PropertyManager

The Mesh PropertyManager lets you mesh models for solid, shell, and mixed mesh studies. Beam studies do not use this PropertyManager.

To display the Mesh PropertyManager:

Open a part or assembly, click the down arrow on Run (Simulation CommandManager) and select Create Mesh ST_Create_Mesh.gif.

Mesh Density

Mesh Factor Use a slider to change the global element size and tolerance. The leftmost position (Coarse) sets the global element size to twice the default. The rightmost position (Fine) sets the global element size to half the default.
  Reset Resets the slider to the default settings.

Mesh Parameters

Sets the global element size, tolerance, and options.

  Standard mesh Activates the Voronoi-Delaunay meshing scheme for subsequent meshing operations.
  Curvature-based mesh Activates the curvature-based meshing scheme for subsequent meshing operations. The mesher creates more elements in higher-curvature areas automatically (without need for mesh control).
The curvature-based mesher supports multi-threaded surface and volume meshing for assembly and multibody part documents. The standard mesher supports only multi-threaded volume meshing.
  Blended curvature-based mesh Activates the Blended curvature-based mesh. Use the Blended curvature-based mesh for models that failed to mesh with the standard or curvature-based mesh.

The Blended curvature-based mesh runs on a single central processor unit (CPU) for surface and volume meshing that can make the meshing process slower.

There are cases where the Blended curvature-based mesh can overcome mesh failure, generating a solid mesh with higher quality elements (lower aspect ratios) than the standard or the curvature-based mesh. The blended curvature-based mesher supports h-adaptive and p-adaptive methods.

The local mesh control settings for the maximum element size and minimum element size should be within the range of values you specify for the global mesh settings. Click Calculate Minimum Element Size to let the program calculate the optimal value.
Calculate Minimum Element Size Available for the Blended curvature-based mesh. Calculates the minimum element size based on either the minimum radius of geometric curvature, or the minimum element value set for mesh control.
  • Include minimum radius of curvature from geometry
  • Include minimum element size from mesh control
When you select both options, the program selects the minimum of the two element size values.

Click Apply to accept the calculated minimum element size.
units.png Unit Sets units for mesh sizes and tolerance.
max_element_size.png Global Size Available for standard mesh only. Sets the global average element size. The software suggests a default value based on the model volume and surface area.
  Tolerance Available for standard mesh only. Sets the tolerance value. The program calculates the mesh tolerance value as the minimum of these quantities:
  • 5% of the global element size (default value)
  • 30% of the smallest mesh element size defined for mesh control definitions in the Mesh Control PropertyManager
  • The user-defined mesh tolerance value in the Mesh PropertyManager (if the user enters a value smaller than the default mesh tolerance value)
If the distance between two nodes is smaller than this value, the nodes are merged unless otherwise specified by contact conditions.
Adjusting the tolerance can help resolve some meshing problems. For example, if meshing fails due to free edges, increasing the tolerance can solve the problem.
  Automatic transition Available for standard mesh only. When checked, the program automatically applies mesh controls to small features, holes, fillets, and other fine details of your model. Clear Automatic transition before meshing large models with many small features and details to avoid generating large numbers of elements. See example below.
max_element_size.png Maximum element size Available for curvature based mesh options only. The maximum element size is used for boundaries with lowest curvature.
tolerance.png Minimum element size Available for curvature based mesh options only. The minimum element size is used for boundaries with highest curvature.
Min number of elements in a circle Available for curvature based mesh options only. Specifies the number of elements in a circle. To observe the effects of this option, the computed element size must be between the Maximum element size and Minimum element size. See How Element Size Is Determined.
Element size growth ratio Available for curvature based mesh options only. Specifies the global element size growth ratio starting from regions of high curvatures in all directions.

Advanced

Jacobian points Available for high quality mesh only. Sets the number of integration points to be used in checking the distortion level of tetrahedral elements. You can base the Jacobian check on 4, 16, 29 Gaussian points or At Nodes.
Draft Quality Mesh Specifies 4 corner nodes for each solid element and 3 corner nodes for each shell element. Draft quality mesh is recommended for quick evaluation and the default high quality option for final results.
Automatic Trials for Solid Available for standard mesh only. Specifies that the mesher remeshes the model automatically using a smaller global element size. The ratio by which the global element size and tolerance are reduced for each trial is 0.8.
Number of trials Sets the maximum number of mesh trials.
Render shell thickness in 3D (slower) Available for studies with shells. Displays the mesh on shell bodies using a 3D representation of the shells.
The shell body is displayed with the thickness value defined in the Shell Definition PropertyManager. The shell thickness orientation is displayed with relation to the midsurface of the shell as defined by the offset value in the Shell Definition PropertyManager.
Remesh failed parts with incompatible mesh Specifies that the incompatible meshing be used for bonded bodies that fail compatible meshing. Used for solid mesh only.
Render beam profile Available for studies with mixed mesh that include beams. Displays the mesh on actual beam geometry as opposed to cylinders.

Options

Save settings without meshing Saves mesh options.
Run (solve) the analysis Runs the study right after meshing.

Example of Automatic Transition

Mesh with Automatic transition cleared Mesh with Automatic transition checked