Context:
Abaqus/CAE
provides the following mesh algorithm options:
- Choose the mesh
algorithm
-
Choose either Medial axis or Advancing
front. It is difficult to predict which algorithm will produce a
better mesh for a particular region; you may have to experiment with the two
algorithm settings. For more information, see
What is the difference between the medial axis algorithm and the advancing front algorithm?.
- Minimize the
mesh transition
-
You can control whether
Abaqus/CAE
will try to minimize the mesh transition when it moves from a coarse mesh to a
fine mesh. In most cases, toggling on Minimize the mesh
transition will reduce mesh distortion. However, if you toggle off
Minimize the mesh transition, the mesh may move closer to
the specified mesh seeds. For more information, see
What is a mesh transition?.
- Use mapped
meshing where appropriate
-
Some models that appear very complex actually contain faces with relatively
simple geometry. By default,
Abaqus/CAE
uses the mapped meshing technique where appropriate to generate elements on
simple faces. You can toggle off Use mapped meshing where
appropriate to prevent
Abaqus/CAE
from using mapped meshing. However, if you mesh a model with simple faces and
do not allow mapped meshing, the resulting element quality can be poor on the
simple faces. For more information, see
What is mapped meshing?,
and
When can Abaqus/CAE apply mapped meshing?.
- Insert boundary
layer
-
When you are creating a free mesh of tetrahedral elements, you can add a
boundary layer of wedge elements along the faces of region boundaries. The
boundary layer is composed of a series of wedge elements stacked normal to the
solid wall of the region with the thinnest elements against the wall. Boundary
layers create a mesh with a high density at the wall and decreasing density as
it progresses toward the tetrahedral mesh in the interior of the region. For
detailed instructions on creating a boundary layer, see
Adding layers of wedge elements to tetrahedral mesh boundaries.
- Use the default
algorithm
-
When you are creating a free mesh of tetrahedral elements, you can choose
the default mesh generation algorithm or the algorithm that was included with
Abaqus/CAE
6.4 and earlier. In most cases the default algorithm is more robust,
particularly when meshing complex shapes and thin solids. For more information,
see
Free meshing with triangular and tetrahedral elements.
- Increase the
size of the interior elements
-
If you choose the default mesh generation algorithm to create a free mesh of
tetrahedral elements, you can toggle on Non-standard interior element
growth and use either the slider control or the text field to
specify a growth rate for interior elements. The growth rate must be between
1.0 (no or minimal growth) and
2.0 (maximum growth).
If the mesh density is adequate for the model being analyzed and the areas
of interest are on the mesh boundary, increasing the size of the interior
elements will increase the computational efficiency. To view the internal
elements generated by
Abaqus/CAE,
you can use a view cut or use display groups to remove exterior elements from
the view.