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Overview
Meshing Procedure Physics Based Settings Global Mesh Controls
Relevance and Relevance Center Element Size Initial Size Seed Smoothing and Transition Span Angle Center Advanced Sizing Function Edge, Face, and Body Sizings Sphere and Body of Influence Contact Sizing Mapped Face Meshing Match Control Refinement Pinch Controls
Training Manual
Inflation Workshop 4.1 Global and Local Mesh Controls Workshop 4.2 Mapped Face Meshing for a Swept Mesh
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Meshing Procedure
Training Manual
1. Set target physics (structural, CFD, etc.). This will be automatically set if you generate the mesh as part of a physics based system (i.e. FLUENT, CFX, or Mechanical) 2. Set meshing methods 3. Specify mesh settings (sizings, controls, inflation, etc.) 4. Create named selections for convenience 5. Preview mesh and adjust settings if necessary 6. Generate mesh 7. Check mesh quality 8. Prepare mesh for analysis
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Physics Based Settings Different types of analyses have different meshing requirements
Structural coarser mesh with higher order elements CFD finer, smoothly varying mesh, boundary layer resolution
Different CFD solvers have different requirements as well
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smoothing transition
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Acts on Edges
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Fast Transition
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Mesh Quality
Mechanical Settings CFD Settings
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Make global adjustments with Relevance and Relevance Center As needed, define sizing for bodies, faces, edges, sphere of influence to exert more control over how sizes are set as the mesh is generated
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Training Manual
As needed, define soft sizing's using bodies, faces, edges or body of influence to exert more control over how sizes are set as the mesh is generated
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Coarse
Medium
Fine
-100 0
-100 0 100
-100 0 100
Relevance
100
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Advanced Size Function Options and defaults: Proximity & Curvature Curvature (default)
Default 18 degrees
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Proximity
Default 3 cells per Gap (2D and 3D) Default accuracy; 0.5
Increase to 1 if proximity is not honored
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Local mesh sizes must be set via mesh controls as no localized refinement due to curvature or proximity will occur
Gradation between the sizes will occur according to the specified growth rate
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Training Manual
Below is the list of local controls available (availability depends on the mesh method used)
Sizing Contact Sizing Refinement Mapped Face Meshing Match Control Pinch Inflation
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Local Sizing
Local Sizing:
Element Size specifies average element edge length on bodies, faces, edges, or vertices Number of Divisions specifies number of elements on edge(s) Sphere of Influence elements within the sphere have a given average element size Available options above depend on which entities are scoped: Options will be different if Advanced Size Function is used
Training Manual
Element Size x x x
# of Elem. Division
Sphere of Influence x x x x
April 28, 2009 Inventory #002645
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Face Sizing
Local Sizing:
Element Size specifies average element edge length on face(s) Sphere of Influence elements within the sphere have a given average element size For anything other than a vertex, a sphere of influence requires that a Coordinate Syetem be defined
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Scoped to 3 surfaces
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Soft
Size is Max Local Curvature angle Local Growth rate (value has to be smaller than Global)
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Edge Sizing
Edge Sizing (bias)
An edge may be discretized with a bias towards one end, both ends, or the center Consider: A swept mesh is used with the source face as shown Edge sizings are specified for the two pairs of edges on the source face. The edge sizings are biased so as to give a finer mesh near the edges
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Vertex Sizing
Vertex Sizing
Sizing can also be defined for Vertices A Vertex Sizing is a Sphere of Influence where the center of the sphere is defined by a model vertex. The sizing will be defined for all entities over the entire sphere
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Contact Sizing
Contact Sizing
provides a way of generating similar-sized elements on contact faces between parts (meshes will be of similar size but will not be conformal) An Element Size or Relevance can be specified for a given contact region
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In this example, the contact region between the two parts has a Contact Sizing specified (by Element Size). Note that the mesh is now consistent at the contact region.
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Refinement
Refinement
Element refinement divides existing mesh Valid for faces, edges, and vertices Not available for Patch Independent Tetrahedrons or CFX-Mesh An initial mesh is created with global and local size controls first, then element refinement is performed at the specified location(s). Refinement level can vary from 1 (minimal) to 3 (maximum). A refinement level of 1 breaks up the edges of the elements in the initial mesh in half. Not recommended for CFD as cannot be used with inflation
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For example shown, the left side has refinement level of 1 whereas the right side is left untouched with default mesh settings.
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If surface cannot be mapped mesh for any reason, meshing will continue and this will be shown in Outline Tree with the icon
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Match Control
Match Control
Matches mesh pattern on periodic faces to facilitate cyclic symmetry analyses typical of rotating machinery
Cut Boundaries
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Matched Faces
Full Model
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Rotation CS
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Scoped Advanced Size function information is also matched Periodic Matching only needs one coordinate system Periodic matching can handle common edges, multiple faces and inflation layers
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Pinch Controls
When pinch controls are defined, defeaturing occurs when the mesh is generated. The Pinch feature works on vertices and edges only; faces and bodies cannot be pinched. The Pinch feature is supported for the following mesh methods:
Patch Conforming Tetrahedrons Thin Solid Sweeps Hex Dominant meshing Quad Dominant Surface Meshing All Triangles Surface meshing
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With automatic pinch generation user can pinch features under a defined size to remove features leading to bad quality elements Note that the pinch tolerance should be smaller than the local min size
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Inflation Options
Use Automatic Inflation
Program Controlled
All faces not part of Named selections No internal faces between shared bodies
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Inflation options
Smooth Transition (default for 2D and Tet meshing First Layer Thickness Total Thickness (Default for others)
Inflation Algorithm
Pre (TGrid)
for Tri/Patch conforming Tet/Sweep
Collision Avoidance
Compression (default for Fluent) Stair-Step (default for CFX)
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The Src/Trg Selection on the should therefore be set to either Manual Source or Manual Source and Target
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Generating a Mesh
Generate Mesh
Generates the entire volume mesh
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Section Planes
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In the Meshing Application, section planes can display internal mesh Find the New section plane button on toolbar Can display
Elements either side of plane Cut or whole elements Elements on the plane
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Section Planes
Exterior mesh
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Section Planes
Create section plane, display one side
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Section Planes
Switch side of section plane displayed
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Section Planes
Display whole elements
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Named Selections
Named Selections allow users to group together vertices, edges, surfaces, or bodies together
Named Selections can be used for defining mesh controls, applying loads and supports in a structural analysis,etc. Named selections will appear as named regions when the mesh is imported into CFX-Pre or Fluent Provides an easy method to reselect groups that will be referenced often when defining contact regions, boundary conditions, etc. Can be used to facilitate program controlled inflation Note:
Only one type of entity can be in a particular Named Selection. For example, vertices and edges cannot exist in the same Named Selection. Named Selection groups can be imported from DesignModeler and from some CAD systems
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Named Selections
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The visibility of Named Selections can be toggled on and off to either hide or display geometry or mesh
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Workshop 4.1
Effect of Global and Local Controls on Mesh Size and Quality
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Goals
This workshop will illustrate the use and effect of global and local mesh sizing controls including use of the Curvature and Proximity features in the Advanced Size function The geometry has both thinwalled regions and regions of high local curvature
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Specifying Geometry
1. Copy the tee.agdb file from the files folder to your working directory
2. Start Workbench and double-click the Mesh entry in the Component Systems panel at the right 3. Right-click on Geometry in the Mesh entry in the Project Schematic and select Import Geometry/Browse 4. Browse to the tee.agdb file you copied and click Open 5. Note that the Geometry entry in the Project Schematic now has a green check mark indicating that geometry has been specified
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Meshing Options
7. Right-click on Mesh and click Edit to open the Ansys Meshing 8. On the Meshing Options Panel at the right, set the Physics Preference to Mechanical and the Mesh Method to Patch Conforming Tetrahedrons and click OK. 9. Look in the Mesh Outline and verify that the Patch Conforming Method has been assigned to the single body in the geometry
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CFD Mesh
11. Change the Physics Preference to CFD and the Solver Preference to Fluent. Verify that the Advanced Size Option is set to Curvature 12. Right-click on Mesh and generate the mesh. Notice the much finer mesh and the improvement in the mesh metric.
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Section Plane
13. Orient the Model view so that it is edge on as shown. Click on the new section plane icon
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14. Draw a section plane that splits the model down the middle. Orient the view so that it is parallel to the axis of the tee. Click on the Show Whole Elements icon. Note that there is only one element through the thickness of the thin regions
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18. Regenerate the mesh Note that there are still multiple elements across the thickness but the mesh count is considerable smaller.
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20. Right-click on the mesh entry in the Outline and insert a Sizing. Pick the outer cylindrical face as shown and click Apply.
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Face Sizing
21. Set the element size to 0.005 [m]. Regenerate the mesh. Notice that the mesh on the selected face is finer than the mesh on adjacent faces.
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Face Sizing
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22. Toggle the Section Plane back on and orient the view so that it is parallel to the axis of the tee. Note that there are only multiple elements through the thin sections where the face sizing is active
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Body Sizing
26. Set the Sphere Radius to 0.01 [m] and the Element Size to 0.005 [m]. The model display will update to preview the extent of the Sphere of Influence.
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Body Sizing
27. Regenerate the mesh with the Section Plane toggled off. Note the limited extent of the Sphere of Influence.
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Body Sizing
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28. Toggle the Section Plane back on and rotate the view so that it is parallel to the axis. Note there are only multiple elements through the thin regions near the Sphere of Influence.
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Workshop 4.2
Mapped Face Meshing and Edge Sizings for a Swept Mesh for a Thin Annulus
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Goals
This workshop will illustrate the use and effect of a Mapped Face Meshing control for a Swept Mesh to enforce a radial number of divisions across the width of a thin annulus An Edge Sizing is also set for edges on the Source and Target faces to help generate a high quality mesh
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Specifying Geometry
1. Copy the elbow.agdb file from the files folder to your working directory
2. Start Workbench and double-click the Mesh entry in the Component Systems panel on the left 3. Right-click on Geometry in the Mesh entry in the Project Schematic and select Import Geometry/Browse 4. Browse to the elbow.agdb file you copied and click Open 5. Note that the Geometry entry in the Project Schematic now has a green check mark indicating that geometry has been specified
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Initial Mesh
10. In the Mesh settings, set the Physics to CFD and the Solver Preference to Fluent. Expand the Sizing and Statistics entries 11. Set the Mesh Metric to Skewness and generate the mesh
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12. Note that there is only one element across most of the annular thickness and the skewness is relatively high
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
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14. Right-click on Mesh and insert a Mapped Face Meshing. Pick the source face for the sweep and set the Radial Number of Divisions to 3.
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Edge Sizing
17. Pick the four edges which bound the source and target faces and apply the election to the Geometry entry box 18. Set the Type to Number of Divisions and set the number to 20. The Model Display should update to reflect the settings
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Final Mesh
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17. Regenerate the mesh. Note the improvement in the mesh quality metrics.
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