Mesh Control PropertyManager

Mesh control refers to specifying different element sizes at different regions in the model. A smaller element size in a region improves the accuracy of results in that region. You can specify mesh control at vertices, edges, faces, components, and beams.

To access the Mesh Control PropertyManager:

  • Right-click Mesh and select Apply Mesh Control.

Selected Entities

Faces, Edges, Vertices, Reference Points, Components for Mesh Control Select the geometric entities to which you want to apply mesh controls.
  Beams Available for beams only (trusses have one element per body). Select the beams to apply mesh controls.
  Use per part size Simulation computes an element size based on the selected part size.

See also Component Mesh Control.

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

  Use same element size Instructs the mesher to uniformly mesh selected components with the element size specified in the Element Size box. This option is available only when defining mesh controls for components.
  Number of elements Available for beams only. Sets the total number of elements for the selected beams.
Units Specifies units for element size.
Element Size Sets the element size for the selected geometric entities.

This is the maximum element size for the curvature-based meshers.

  • When you select the Blended-curvature mesher, you can define a local element size that is larger than the global maximum element size to create a coarser mesh.
  • When you select the Curvature-based mesher, you can define a local element size within the range of the global minimum to the global maximum element sizes.
Min Element Size Minimum element size is available for the curvature-based meshers only. Sets the minimum element size for the selected entities.

You can define a local minimum element size that is smaller than the global minimum element size to refine the mesh further.
Min number of elements in a circle This option is available for the curvature-based meshers 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.
Ratio Sets the ratio of the element size in one layer to the element size in the preceding layer.

Symbol Settings

  Edit Color Selects a color for the mesh control symbols.
Symbol Size Use the spin arrows to control the size of the mesh control symbols.
  Show Preview Turns on/off the display of the mesh control symbols on selected entities.

Right-click Mesh and select Summary to view the mesh assignments for each component and geometric entity with local mesh control definitions. For components with mesh control definitions, the Mesh Summary dialog box lists the original and final mesh element ranges (minimum – maximum).

  • Assuming that the element size used for meshing an entity is (e), the average element size in layers radiating from the entity will be: e, e*r, e*r2, e*r3, ...., e*rn.
  • If the calculated average element size of a layer exceeds (E), where (E) is the Global Size, the program uses (E) instead.
  • The mesh radiates from vertices to edges, from edges to faces, from faces to components, and from a component to connected components.