Lecture4 MeshingMethods

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IntroductiontoANSYS Meshing
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MeshingMethods
Whatyouwilllearnfromthispresentation

AlgorithmsforTetrahedralMeshing DifferentmethodsforHexMeshing CutCellmeshing Meshingfor2Dandshellanalysis MeshingMultipleBodies DirectMeshing Interoperability

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PreprocessingWorkflow
GeometryCreation OR GeometryImport Geometry Operations Meshing Solver

Sketches and Planes 3D Operations

Extrude, Revolve, Sweep, etc

3D Operations
Boolean, Body Operations, Split, etc

Meshing Methods
Hybrid Mesh: Tet, Prisms, Pyramids

Geometry Import Options

Direct CAD/BiDirectional CAD

Geometry Cleanup and Repair

Automatic Cleanup Merge, Connect, Projection, Flow Volume Extraction, etc

Hexa Dominant, Sweep meshing Assembly Meshing

Global Mesh Settings Local Mesh Settings

Sizing, Body/Sphere of Influence, Match Control, etc

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InsertingMethods
IntheOutline,rightclickMesh,Insert>Method
SelectbodyinDetailsView Or,intheGraphicsWindow,Selectbody(s),right click,Insert>Method BodyautomaticallyselectedinDetailsView

Methodisselectableusingthedropdownbox
Select,Automatic,Tetrahedrons,HexDominant, SweeporMultizone (Automaticisusedwhereno methodhasbeenexplicitlyspecified)
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AutomaticMethod

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AutomaticMethod
MethodBehavior

CombinationofTetrahedronPatch
ConformingandSweepMethod Automaticallyidentifiessweepable bodiesandcreatessweepmesh Allnonsweepable bodiesmeshed usingtetrahedronmethod DetailsofTetrahedronPatch Conforming&Sweepinfollowing slides

Access

DefaultMethodwherenotspecified CanspecifybyinsertingMethodand
settingtoAutomatic
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TetrahedronsMethod

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TetrahedronsMethod
MethodBehavior

Generatestetrahedralelements twoalgorithmsare
available: PatchConforming PatchIndependent

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TetrahedronsMethod:PatchConforming
Method&AlgorithmBehavior

Bottomupapproach:Meshingprocessstarts
fromedges,facesandthenvolume Allfacesandtheirboundariesarerespected (conformedto)andmeshed Goodforhighquality(clean)CADgeometries Sizingisdefinedbyglobaland/orlocalcontrols

Access

InsertMethodandsettoTetrahedrons
Additionaldropdownboxforalgorithmchoice appears SetPatchConforming PatchConformingMethodlistedinOutline underMeshobject
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TetrahedronsMethod:PatchIndependent
Method&AlgorithmBehavior

Topdownapproach:Volumemeshgenerated
firstandprojectedontofacesandedges Faces,edgesandverticesnotnecessarily conformedto Controlledbytoleranceandscopingof NamedSelection,loadorotherobject Goodforgrossdefeaturingofpoorquality (dirty)CADgeometries MethodDetailscontainsizingcontrols

Access

InsertMethodandsettoTetrahedrons
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Additionaldropdownboxforalgorithm choiceappears SetPatchIndependent

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TetrahedronsMethod:Algorithm Comparison
Geometry containing small details Patch Conforming: All geometric detail is captured Patch Independent: Can ignore and defeature geometry

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TetrahedronsMethod:Control
PatchConforming

Sizing
MeshsizingforthePatchConformingalgorithm isdefinedbyGlobal&LocalControls Automaticrefinementbasedoncurvature and/orproximityaccessibleinGlobalControls DetailsofGlobal&LocalControlscoveredin separatelectures Choiceofsurfacemesher algorithminglobal controls
Proximity Curvature

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TetrahedronsMethod:Control
PatchIndependent

Sizing
SizingforthePatchIndependentalgorithm definedinPatchIndependentDetails Automaticcurvature&proximity refinementoption

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TetrahedronsMethod:Control
PatchIndependent

Defeaturing Control
SetMeshBasedDefeaturing On SetDefeaturing Tolerance AssignNamedSelectionsto selectivelypreservegeometry
NamedSelectionassigned andDefeaturing Tolerance =0.03m.Features>0.03m respected.

Defeaturing ToleranceOff

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TetrahedronsMethod:Inflation
AlsoreferredtoasPrism/BoundaryLayers

Usedto:
Resolvehighgradientsofflowvariablesandphysics complexitiesinclosevicinityofwallsforCFDanalysis ResolvethinairgapsinElectromagneticanalysis Resolveregionsofhighstressconcentrationsin Mechanicalanalysis

Inflation preview

CompatiblewithbothPatchConformingandPatch
Independenttetrahedronmeshingmethods InflationlayerscanbegeneratedfromTriandQuad surfacemesh InflationcanbeappliedusingGlobaland/orLocal controls
Tet + Prisms
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TetrahedronsMethod:Application Examples
PatchConforming PatchIndependent

CleanCAD,accuratesurfacemesh

DirtyCAD,defeatured surfacemesh

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HexMeshing

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Introduction
Tet Mesh

HexMeshing

Elements: 48K

Reducedelementcount
Fasterconvergence Elementsalignedindirectionofflow ImprovedAccuracy Reducednumericalerror
Sweep Mesh Elements: 19K

MethodsAvailable

Sweep MultiZone HexDominant(onlyforMechanical)

InitialRequirements

Cleangeometry
Interoperabilitybetweenmethods
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SweepMeshing
MethodBehavior
SweepPath

Meshessourcesurface,sweepsthroughtothe
target Generateshex/wedgeelements SideFace(s) Bodymusthavetopologicallyidenticalfaceson TargetFace SourceFace twoends,(whichactassourceandtarget faces) Sidefacesmustbemappable Onlyonesourceandonetargetfaceisallowed AlternativeThinsweepmethodcanhave multiplesourceandtargetfaces covered later

Access

InsertMethodandsettoSweep
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SweepMeshing
Source/Target(Src/Trg Selection)

Automatic
ANSYSMeshingautomaticallyfindssourceand target ManualSource&ManualSourceandTarget Userselection(requiredforinflation) AutomaticThin&ManualThin Multiplesourceandtargetfaces

Sweep Direction
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Source Face

Target Face
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SweepMeshing
Src/Trg SelectionBehaviour

Automaticselectionrequires
thattheapplicationfindthe SourceandTarget.Specifying bothSource&Targetwill acceleratemeshing
Automatic Selection Sweep Mesh No inflation

Inflation
MustspecifyatleastSource manuallywhenusing Inflation&SweepMethod Sourcesurfaceedgesare inflatedthensweptthrough volume,sourcemust thereforebespecifiedfirst
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Manual Selection

Sweep Mesh with inflation

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SweepMeshing
RotationalSweeping

Sweepmeshescanalsobe
createdbysweepingaSource aroundanaxis Example:Src/Trg Selection Rotationalsweepforsector geometry Rotationalsweepingrequires bothSource&Targettobe selected
Target Face Source Face

Forbothrotationalandaxial
sweepingSource&Targetfaces arecolour codedwhenselected

Sweep Path
Manual Source & Target Selection Sweep Mesh: Wedge and Hex elements

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SweepMeshing
Src/Trg Selection:AutomaticThin &ManualThin

Selectsanalternatesweep
algorithm Advantages Capableofsweepingmultiple Source&Targets Canperformsomeautomatic defeaturing Disadvantages ForMultibody Partsonlyone divisionacrossthesweepis allowed Inflation&SweepBiasnot allowed
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Source Faces

Target

Source Faces Imprinted on Target

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SweepMeshing
HowtoIdentifySweepable bodies

ANSYSMeshingcanidentifysweepable bodiesautomatically
RotationalSweepbodiesarenotidentified Righ clickMeshobjectinOutlineandselectShow>Sweepable Bodies

Geometry
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RMB on Mesh to find sweepable bodies

Sweepable bodies in green color

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SweepMeshing
HowtoEnsureBodiesareSweepable

Bodieswhichwillnotallowsweepingcanbedecomposedintoanumber
oftopologicallysimplersweepable bodies DecompositioncanbeperformedinCAD/DM Example1
Unsweepable body

Decomposed in CAD/DM Sweepable!

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SweepMeshing
Example2
T Junction Geometry Unsweepable

Decomposed in CAD/DM Sweepable!

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MultiZoneMeshing
MethodBehavior

BasedonblockingapproachusedinANSYSICEM
CFDHexa Automaticallydecomposesgeometry Usesstructured& unstructuredblocks Generatesstructuredhexmeshwherepossible, fillsremainingregionwithunstructuredmesh. Canhavemultiplesourceandtargetfaces Canselectsource&targetfacesautomatically ormanually BlockwillbemeshedbyHexa orTetra dependingontheMeshType(struct /free) CompatiblewithProgramControlledinflation

MultiZone Mesh

Access

InsertMethodandsettoMultizone
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MultiZone Meshing
Example1

Singlebodyautomaticallydecomposedintothreeblocks Src/Trg Selection Automatic Resultsinallhexmesh Equivalenttomanuallydecomposingbyslicingoffupper andlowercylinderstoproducethreebodiesand applyingsweepmethods

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MultiZoneMeshing
Example2

Blendoncentralbody,Multizone longerabletocreate
structuredregion UnstructuredregionreferredtoasFreeMesh SpecifyTypeofFreeMesh Tetra,Hexa Core,Hexa Dominant CanspecifytypeofsurfacemeshusingMapped MeshType(Hexa,Hexa/Prism,Prism)

Free Mesh Tetra

Free Mesh Hexa Core

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AssemblyMeshing

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AssemblyMeshing
MethodBehavior

Meshesanentiremodelassingle
process Methodscoveredsofararepartor bodybasedmethods TwoAlgorithms CutCell &Tetrahedrons Physics&SolvermustbeCFD& FLUENTrespectively

Access

Activatedbyselecting
CutCell/Tetrahedronsunder AssemblyMeshingMethod

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AssemblyMeshing
Controls

Physics/SolversettoCFD/Fluent SetAdvancedSizeFunctions
Edgeproximitysourcesaccessible InflationdefinedbyGlobalorLocalcontrols CombinedGlobal&Localnotsupported CutCell Meshingcontrols FeatureCapture(ProgramControlled=40) Usedropdownboxtospecifysmallerangle tocapturemorefeatures,0tocaptureall. Tessellation(faceting)refinement Applyanyrequiredlocalsizecontrols Statistics UseOrthogonalQuality
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AssemblyMeshing:Characteristics
CutCell MeshingCharacteristics

Createsahighfractionofhexandprismatic
cells Patchindependent: EliminatestheneedforpinchcontrolandVT operations,toleratesoverlappingbodies. Createsconformalmeshesacrosspartsin contact Eliminatestheneedformultibodypart generationinCAD Operatesonparts,multibodyparts,etc.with newoptiontodefinevirtualbodies Abilitytocreateflowvolumesfrom aclosedsetofbodies(sheetorsolid) EliminatestheneedforBoolean/Fill operationsinCAD
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AssemblyMeshing
VirtualBodies Example

Useofvirtualbody(materialpoint)toextractaflowregiondirectlyfromCAD

Assembly Handling faceedge connectivity Capping Face

Material point

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AssemblyMeshing:FlowVolumeExtraction
UsingVirtualBodies
Material Point

1. DefineanewCoordinateSystem 2. 3.
insidetheFluidVoid InsertaVirtualBody AssigntheCoordinateSystemtothe MaterialPointinthedetailsofthe VirtualBody

3 1
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AssemblyMeshing Limitations
Cannotbeusedincombinationwith
otherMeshingMethods Featurerecoverylimitations Sharptrailingedgesandacute edgeswillproduceajaggedmesh Recoveringsomefeaturesmight leadtobadquality Priortomeshingtheuserisadvised toresolvegeometryfeatures properlyCAD/DM Avoidunnecessarygeometry details Minsizeshouldbeofsmallest3D feature,checkandadjustif required.
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Interoperability
NeitherBodyorSurfaceof Influencearesupported Inflationnotsupportedonbaffles orinternalwalls Ignoredsymmetryconditionfor meshing FailureintheCutCell meshing algorithmisalmostalwaysrelatedto facetingissuesinrelationtothe valueofMinSize.Makesurethatthe valueofMinSizetrulyrepresentsthe smallestsizethatyouwantthe curvatureandproximitysizefunction tocapture. MoreonAssemblyMeshinginthe GlobalMeshControlsLecture.
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2DMeshing

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Methodsfor2DMeshing
PatchConformingMethods
AutomaticMethod(Quad Dominant)&AllTriangles Advancedsizefunctionsandlocalsize controlssupported
Automatic Triangles

Uniform Quad/Tri

Uniform Quad

PatchIndependentMethods
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UniformQuad/Tri&UniformQuad Advancedsizefunctionsandlocalsize controlsNOTsupported

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2DMeshingControl&Inflation
MappedSurfaceMeshes

Fullymappedsurfacemeshesand
specifiededgesizing/intervalscanbe obtainedbyapplyinglocalcontrols CoveredintheLocalMeshControls lecture

Mapped Control

2DmeshwithInflation

Samemethodasappliedinthe3D
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sweepmethod Boundaryedgesareinflated Supportforglobalandlocalinflation controls

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2DMeshSolverGuidelines
ANSYSFLUENT ANSYSCFX

Fora2DanalysisinFLUENTgenerate
themeshintheXYplane(z=0). Foraxisymmetric applicationsy 0 andmakesurethatthedomainis axisymmetric aboutxaxis InANSYSMeshing,bydefault,a thicknessisdefinedforasurface bodyandisvisiblewhentheviewis notnormaltotheXYPlane.Thisis purelygraphical nothicknesswill bepresentwhenthemeshis exportedintotheFLUENT2Dsolver

For2DanalysisinCFX,createa
volumemesh(usingSweep)thatis1 elementthickinthesymmetry direction,i.e., ThinBlockforPlanar2D ThinWedge(<5)for2DAxis symmetric

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MeshingMultipleBodies

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SelectiveMeshing
WhatisSelectiveMeshing?

Selectivelypickingbodiesandmeshingthemincrementally
WhyuseSelectiveMeshing?

Bodiescanbemeshedindividually Meshseedingfrommeshedbodiesinfluencesneighboringbodies(user
hascontrol) Automatedmeshingcanbeusedatanytimetomeshallremaining bodies Whencontrolsareadded,onlyaffectedbodymeshesrequireremeshing Selectivebodyupdating Extensivemeshmethodinteroperability

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SelectiveMeshing
Localmeshing

Meshorclearmeshesonindividualbodies Subsequentbodieswillusetheattachedface
mesh Themeshingresults(celltypes)willdependon themeshingorder Adjust/addcontrols abletoremesh only affectedbody Selectbody(s)rightclickforcontextmenu
Meshing first the pipe then the block Meshing first the block then the pipe

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SelectiveMeshing
RecordingMeshOperations

Whenusingselectivemeshingtheorder
ofmeshingcanberecordedfor automatedfutureuse RightclickMeshintheOutlinefor ContextMenu

Worksheetisgeneratedrecordingmesh
operationsasorderedsteps NamedSelectionsareautomatically createdforeachmeshedbodyfor referenceintheWorksheet Example;Meshingcylinderthenblock
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SelectiveMeshing
SelectiveBodyUpdating

Forlargemodels,ComparePartson
Updateoptionsavestimeremeshing only bodiesthathavechanged AccessoptionthroughTools>Options
Associatively:Accommodatesforbody topologychange(add/delete)(slower) NonAssociatively:Assumesnotopology change(faster)

Example;Geometricchangetoblock.

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Workshop2 IntroducingMeshing Methods

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Appendix
Contents

HexDominantMeshing SweepMeshingBiasing&ComplexGeometry SurfaceMeshingwithInflation MeshConnections ShellMeshing PatchIndependentTetrahedrons Transition

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HexDominantMeshing
Themeshcontainsacombinationoftetandpyramidcellswithmajority
ofcellbeingofhextype Usefulforbodieswhichcannotbeswept UsefulforCFDapplicationsnotrequiringinflation UsefulforCFDintherangeofacceptableSkewnessorOrthogonal Qualitymeshqualitymetrics

Access

RMBonMesh Insert Method Definition Method HexDominant

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HexDominantMeshing
Example:

Geometry with valve inside

Due to valve sweep method cannot be used

Hex Dominant Mesh generated

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HexDominantMeshing
Free(unstructured)FaceMeshTypes

Determinestheelementshapeinthefreezone(wherestructured
meshingisnotpossible)

Options

Quad/Tri AllQuad
Mayinserttriangularelementsdependingoncomplexityofgeometry

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HexDominantMeshing
Example:
Higher no. of elements

Free Face Mesh Type: Quad/Tri

Geometry with valve inside

Lower no. of elements Free Face Mesh Type: All Quad

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HexDominantMeshing
Example:HexDominantMeshElements
Hex Dominant Mesh

Pyramid

Wedge

Hex

Tet

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 Control:

SweepMeshing
Source face elements: Only Quad Type: All Quad

Free(unstructured)MeshType

Source face elements: Quad plus Tri Type: Quad/Tri

Sweepable Geometry Source face elements: Only Tri Type: All Tri
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SweepMeshing
Control:Type
Element size in swept direction 2mm Sweep Element Size

Sweepable Geometry Sweep Num Divisions

No. of elements in swept direction: 10

TheNumberofDivisionscanbe>1000.Ifthisnumberis>1000thedivisionswillnotbedrawn ontheedge
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SweepMeshing
Control:SweepBiasType
Uniform mesh No Bias

Sweepable Geometry With Bias

Cells are concentrated on one side

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SweepMeshing:Complexgeometry

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SurfaceMeshingwithInflation
TriangularMeshwithInflation

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MeshConnections
Forsheetmodels, connectionscanbe definedasMesh connections Meshconnectionscanbe usedtoextendmeshat meshlevel
Gap

ToleranceValuecanbe
specifiedtoclosegapsat meshlevel
Connected Mesh

Gap removed at mesh level

Meshconnectionswill
becreatedatmeshtime (ratherthanasCEin solver)

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ShellMeshing:Example
Edge colored by the number of connected faces Automatic generation of mesh connections Mesh connectivity can be shown also after meshing Ability to find mappable faces

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TetrahedronsMethod:PatchIndependent
Transition

EffectofSmoothTransition Smoothtransitionusesadvanced
frontmeshingtechnique
Smooth Transition Off (default) Smooth Transition On

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