SURFACE MESH

 

This function allows the user to create auto-mesh on the selected surface(s).  The user must complete the definition in Figure 5.3.4.

Figure 5.3.4 Surface Mesh

 

l       Select the SELECT SURFACES button. See Section 4.3.3, PART/ADD SURFACE, for more information.

l        Select a type of tool: CONNECTED or DISCONNECTED MESH, PART MESHER, or TRIANGLE MESHER.

CONNECTED TOOL MESH will connect the adjacent surfaces if the gaps are within the surface gap tolerance (GAP TOL).

DISCONNECTED TOOL MESH will leave gaps between elements that are located on adjacent surfaces.

PART MESHER is the new topology mesher.

TRIANGLE MESHER will only generate triangle elements.

 

l       Select or deselect IN ORIGINAL PART.  This option includes the created elements in original part or in current part.

 

l       Select or deselect BOUNDARY CHECK. This option checks and displays the model boundary after building the topological structures.

 

l       Select or deselect REFINE SHARP ANGLE. This option checks and repairs triangular elements with very sharp angle (less than 5 degrees) due to bad quality of the CAD surface.  The meshing speed will be reduced by 40 to 50% when this option is selected.  Therefore, it should be used only when the sharp angled elements are encountered in the mesh.

 

l       Enter the numbers of MAXIMUM SIZE, MINIMUM SIZE, ANGLE and CHORDAL DEVIATION in the data field.

MAXIMUM SIZE
Controls the maximum element size.

MINIMUM SIZE
Controls the minimum element size.

ANGLE
Controls the inclination of the adjacent elements.

CHORDAL
Controls the number of elements at the radius.

IGNORE HOLE SIZE
Fills interior holes of the surface with mesh if the hole size is less than the given value.  

 

l       Select APPLY TO MESH

 

If TOOL MESH is selected:

 

eta/DYNAFORM will create mesh suitable for punch or die definition on the selected surfaces. If the number of selected surfaces is equal to or greater than 2, the BOUNDARY CHECK is activated. The function first builds topological structures and then displays the STATUS WINDOW.  See Figure 5.3.5.  A message will be given in the PROMPT window. 

Figure 5.3.5 Building Topological Structures

 

l       After building the topological structures, the DYNAFORM Question window appears. See Figure 5.3.6. Select YES to accept the boundary and continue to the next step.  Select NO to display the BOUNDARY CHECK window.  See Figure 5.3.7. 

     

Figure 5.3.6 DYNAFORM Question               Figure 5.3.7 Boundary Check

 

Select/deselect SHOW BOUNDARY ONLY to display surfaces with model boundaries. Select OK to accept the gap tolerance.  Select REDO to enter a new gap tolerance to rebuild the topological structures.

 

l       After the user selects or accepts the gap tolerance, eta/DYNAFORM begins to mesh the surface boundaries.  See Figure 5.3.8. For mesh creation, see Figure 5.3.9.

Figure 5.3.8 Meshing Surface Boundaries

 

Figure 5.3.9 Creating Mesh

 

l       The ACCEPT MESH CONFIRMATION (YES and NO) window will be activated in the SURFACE MESH window.  Select YES or NO to accept or reject the created mesh.

 

l       Select OK to exit.

 

Note: When any status window appears, the user can abort the current operation by selecting ABORT.

 

If PART MESHER is selected:

 

PART MESHER is the new topology mesher. Refer to Figure 5.3.10 for the list of control parameters.

 

l    CHECK SURFACE
Checks for duplicate surfaces while meshing.

l    MESH BY PART
Mesh parts one at a time.  The mesh will not be connected between parts.

 

l    AUTO REPAIR
Automatically merges gaps between elements and deletes free nodes.

l    IGNORE HOLE SIZE
Fills an interior hole in the surface with mesh if the hole size is less than the given value.

l    MESH QUALITY
Refer to Figure 5.3.11 for mesh quality control parameters.

    

Figure 5.3.10 Part Mesher                           Figure 5.3.11 Mesh Quality

 

If TRIANGLE MESHER is selected:

 

The user can enter only the element size and the gap tolerance as shown in Figure 5.3.12.

Figure 5.3.12 Triangle Mesher