The document describes preparing geometry for a hex mesh. It involves decomposing existing surfaces into smaller three- or four-sided surfaces to create triparametric solids that can be iso-meshed with hex elements. The steps include opening a new database, importing CAD geometry, decomposing surfaces, creating new surfaces, editing surfaces using break and edge match, creating solids using B-rep, and meshing the model with hex elements.
The document describes preparing geometry for a hex mesh. It involves decomposing existing surfaces into smaller three- or four-sided surfaces to create triparametric solids that can be iso-meshed with hex elements. The steps include opening a new database, importing CAD geometry, decomposing surfaces, creating new surfaces, editing surfaces using break and edge match, creating solids using B-rep, and meshing the model with hex elements.
The document describes preparing geometry for a hex mesh. It involves decomposing existing surfaces into smaller three- or four-sided surfaces to create triparametric solids that can be iso-meshed with hex elements. The steps include opening a new database, importing CAD geometry, decomposing surfaces, creating new surfaces, editing surfaces using break and edge match, creating solids using B-rep, and meshing the model with hex elements.
The document describes preparing geometry for a hex mesh. It involves decomposing existing surfaces into smaller three- or four-sided surfaces to create triparametric solids that can be iso-meshed with hex elements. The steps include opening a new database, importing CAD geometry, decomposing surfaces, creating new surfaces, editing surfaces using break and edge match, creating solids using B-rep, and meshing the model with hex elements.
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LESSON 8
Preparing Geometry for a Hex Mesh
Objectives: s s s Create surfaces by Decomposing and Editing existing surfaces Create triparametric solids. Mesh triparametric solid with hex elements.
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LESSON 8
Preparing Geometry for a Hex Mesh
Model Description: In this exercise, you will create a new database and then import CAD geometry. You will create several new surfaces by decomposing and editing some existing surfaces to complete the model. Decomposition of the CAD geometry is required when IsoMeshing a solid. IsoMeshing requires that the solids must have 5 or 6 faces. Thus, one needs to decompose the n-edged surface into a number of 3- or 4-edged surfaces to create 5or 6-faced solids. Shown on next page is a drawing of the surfaces you will be decomposing and suggested steps for their constructions. Session les will also be used to complete some of the geometry. You will also create curves using the Point method, edit surfaces using the Break and Edge Match option. After the solid model is completely decomposed into triparametric solids, you will mesh the completed solid model with hex elements.
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Surface 8
Surface 14
Surface 7
Z Y
Surface 11
Suggested Exercise Steps:
s s s s s s s s s Open a new database called Hex.db. Import the IGES le Gadget.igs and run a session le. Create solids on model using surface method. Decomposing surfaces into smaller three- or four-sided surfaces. Create Surfaces by Editing existing surfaces using the Break option. Edge match some of the surface edges of the model. Create solid on the model using B-rep method. Mesh the base part of the model using extrude method. Associate the nite elements of the base part of model to the
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Preparing Geometry for a Hex Mesh
geometric solid. s s Mesh the extension part of the model using solid method. Equivalence and verify the whole model.
Files: All the les used in this exercise are listed below. Each listing includes the le, where it originated, its format (text/binary) and summary information as to how it relates to this exercise. File Supplied/CreateDescription Hex.db Created This is a P3/PATRAN database (binary) that is created in this exercise.The geometry of the model is imported from an IGES le.
Gadget.igs
Supplied This is an IGES le which contains the geometry of the model for this exercise.
Ex_5_setup.ses Supplied This is a session le which perform bounding of some surfaces of the model.
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Open a New Database
Exercise Procedure: Open a New Database 1. Create a new database called Hex.db.
File/New ... New Database Name: OK In the New Model Preference form set the following: Tolerance: Analysis Code: Analysis Type: OK 2. Import the IGES le Gadget.igs. Hex.db
x Default MSC/NASTRAN Structural
Import an IGES le
File/Import... Object: Source: Import File: Apply Model IGES Gadget.igs
3.
If the model is not visible, change the view by selecting the t view icon in the toolbar:
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Preparing Geometry for a Hex Mesh
Your viewport should appear as shown below.
Y Z X
4.
Run the session le ex_5_setup.ses to complete the model with bounded surfaces.
File/Session/Play ... Play from le: Apply The function of this session le is to use the curve method to create surfaces to bound the whole model. Ex_8_setup.ses
Running a *.ses Session File
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Post Base Part of Model
After you run the le, the following should appear in your viewport.
Y Z X
5.
Now post only the base part of the model.
Post Base Part of Model
Group/Post Select Groups to Post Apply Cancel Change the view to isometric 2. geo_base
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Preparing Geometry for a Hex Mesh
Base part of the model: Base Tip
Surface 14.2 Y X Z
6.
Create surface using curve method
First you must create another curve to enclose the surface by translating an existing curve
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Translation Vector Click in the Traslation Vector databox and then select the tip and base icon Transform Curve Translate
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Create Surface Using Curve Method
Then click on the Point icon
Now screen select point 6 and 7.
Curve List Surface 16.3
Apply You need to trim the curve to t the gap Action: Object: Method: Trim Point List Curve/Point List Edit Curve Trim Point 42
Curve 1 (and the end point on the side of the curve that you want to trim
Apply Repeat this procedure for the top half of the curve Action: Object: Method: Trim Point List Curve/Point List Edit Curve Trim Point 5
Curve 1 (and the end point on the side of the curve that you want to trim
Apply
Create Surface Using Curve Method
Now you can create the surface
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Create Surface Curve
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Option: Starting Curve List Ending Curve List 2 Curve Curve 1 Surface 14.2
Note: Geometric ID numbers may not match exactly in this exercise. Refer to a gure whenever possible
Curve 1 New surface
30
Surface 14.2 Y
7.
Change the view of the viewport as follows:
Viewing/Angles... Angles Apply Cancel 8. Create curve using point method. 15 50 0
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Create Curve Point PATRAN 302 Exercise Workbook - Release 7.5
Create Curve Using Point Method
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Create Curve Using Point Method
Option: Starting Point List
2 Point Point 17
For the end point, rst select the following icon in the select menu:
After that, click the following icon and then select the edge of surface 11 as follows:
Pick this edge
17 11
Y X Z
Lastly, click the following icon and screen pick point 17 again.
Ending Point List
Con..(Point 17)..(Surface 11.2)
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Your model should appear as follows:
New Curve
11 Y X Z
9.
Create a curve on surface 11 as follows:
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Vector Coordinates List Origin Coordinates List Apply Create Curve XYZ
Create Curve using XYZ Method
<-15 0 0> point 43
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Edit Surface Using Break Method
New Curve 3 43 2
11 Y X Z
Surface 26
10.
Edit surface 26 using break method.
Edit Surface Using Break Method
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Option: Surface List Break Curve List Curve Surface 26 Curve 2 Edit Surface Break
Answer Yes to delete the original surfaces.
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Surface 31 and 32 should be created as shown below.
New Surface 32 3 2
31 Y X Z
Surface 11
Again, apply the same method to surface 11 as follows:
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Option: Surface List Break Curve List Edit Surface Break
Curve Surface 11 Curve 3
Answer Yes to delete the original surfaces.
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Create Solid Using B-rep Method
Surface 33 and 34 should appear as shown below.
New Surface 33 3 32 2
34 Y X Z
31
11.
Delete curve 2 and 3 as follows:
x Geometry Action: Object: Geometric Entity List Apply 12. Now, try to change the geometry into a solid. Delete Any
Curve 2 3
Create Solid Using B-rep Method
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Create Solid B-rep
Delete Original Surfaces s Auto Execute
Surface List (Select all the surfaces on screen)
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Notice that an error message will come up since some of the edges are not matched (see gure below). Hence, we need to edge match the model before changing it into solid. Surface 16.3 Edges not matched due to missing surface Surface 21.2
Surface 30.3
Y X Z
13.
We must create a Trimmed Surface so the edges will match up
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Director Curve List Base Curve List Apply Now you will trim the surface you just created Action: Object: Method: Auto Chain... Select a Start Curve Surface 30.3 PATRAN 302 Exercise Workbook - Release 7.5 8-17 Create Surface Trimmed Create Surface Glide
Surface 21.2 Surface 16.3
Edge Match the Model
Choose a Curve to Continue OK
Surface 29.2
Click on next if the curve in the box is not the curve you want to select. If it is press OK. Continue around the edge of the surface clockwise until it is completely enclosed. Cancel Outer Loop List Surface List Apply Respond Yes to both when promted to delete the original surface and curves 14. Edit surface using edge match method: Curve 2 Surface 32
Edge Match the Model
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Option: Surface 1 List Surface 2 List Apply 15. Now try to create solid using B-rep method again. Edit Surface Edge Match
2 Surface Surface 30 Surface 33
Create Solid by B-rep Method
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Create Solid B-rep
Delete Original Surfaces
Surface List 8-18 PATRAN 302 Exercise Workbook - Release 7.5 (Select all the surfaces on screen)
LESSON 8
Preparing Geometry for a Hex Mesh
Apply A message should come up in the command window to state that solid 6 is created.
16.
Create mesh seeds on the model.
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Create Mesh Seed Uniform
Create Mesh Seeds on Model
Put the mesh seeds on the model by following the illustration shown below.
4 24 30 33 32 21
16 14
34
31
1 13 6 15
12 20
17
4 8
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Create Group
Create Group
17.
Create a group for the nite elements of the base part of model.
Group/Create... New Group Name fem_base
s Make Current Apply Cancel
Create Mesh
18.
Create mesh on model.
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Global Edge Length Element Topology Mesher Surface List Apply and Global Edge Length Element Topology Mesher Surface List Apply 4 Quad4 4 Quad4 Create Mesh Surface
x Paver Surface 14
x Isomesh Surface 30
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Turn off all the entity labels and your model should appear as shown below.
19.
Sweep the elements using extrude method.
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Mesh Control Sweep Element Extrude
Sweep Elements
x Number of Elements Number OK Now click the Direction Vector databox and then select the following icons in the select menu: First select this icon: 3
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Sweep Elements
Then select this:
Select point 38 to point 22 as the Direction Vector as follows:
Surface 30
Surface 14
Point 22
Point 38
Direction Vector
Con..(Point 38)..(Point 22)..
s Delete Original Elements
Base Entity List Elm 1:74 (Select all the elements on surface 14 and 30)
Apply
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The mesh should appear as follows:
20.
Perform the above procedure again for the following entities:
Mesh Control
x Number of Elements Number OK Use the beam, point, and node icons to select the Direction Vector. 1
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Sweep Elements
Select node 323 to point 23 as the Direction Vector.
Point 23
Node 323
(Note: value of node may vary, due to meshing by paver.)
Now change the view to Top view by select the following icon in the toolbar:
Top view icon
Click in the Base Entity List databox and then select the element face icon:
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Select the sweep elements as follows:
Select the elements here
Direction Vector
Con..(Node323)..(Point 23)..
Delete Original Elements
Base Entity List Apply Now change the view angle back to 15 50 0 and the following should appear in your viewport. Elm 223.5 ....296.5
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Create Mesh
New Mesh
21.
Change the view to default view by select the following icon in the toolbar.
22.
Now create some mesh on the model as follows:
Create Mesh
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Global Edge Length Element Topology Mesher Surface List Apply 4 Quad4 Create Mesh Surface
x Paver Surface 6
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The new mesh is shown below.
New Mesh 23. Again, sweep elements using the extrude method.
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Mesh Control... Sweep Element Extrude
Sweep Elements
x Number of Elements Number OK Use the same direction vector as last time (node 323 to point 23) and use the following select menu icons to select all the new created elements on surface 6 as the base entities. 1
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Sweep Elements
First select this icon:
Then select this
Direction Vector
Con..(Node 312)..(Point 23).
s Delete Original Elements
Base Entity List Apply A message should show up in the command window to state that 4 elements have been created. Surface 6
24.
Change the view to Top view and then perform the sweep element procedure again for the following entities:
Mesh Control...
x Number of Elements Number OK 8
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Use point 1 to point 8 as the Direction Vector and use the following select menu icon to select the element faces shown below as the sweep elements.
Point 8
Point 1 Select the element faces here
Direction Vector
Con..(Point 1)..(Point 8)..
Delete Original Elements
Base Entity List Apply Elm 297.5..370.5 375.5..378.5
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Create Mesh
Change the view angle to 10 10 0 and your model should appear as follows:
Next, create mesh on the nal surface of the model.
Create Mesh
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Global Edge Length Element Topology Mesher Surface List 4 Quad4 Create Mesh Surface
x Paver Surface 33 34 (The two unmeshed surfaces at the left of the model)
Apply
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Preparing Geometry for a Hex Mesh
Mesh on surfaces 33 and 34 is shown below.
25.
Sweep elements on surface 33 and 34 using extrude method.
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Mesh Control... Sweep Element Extrude
Sweep Elements
x Number of Elements Number OK 8
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Sweep Elements
Again, use point 1 to point 8 as the Direction Vector and click on the following select menu icon to select the elements on the surface 33 and 34 as base entities.
Highlight all newly created elements on the two surfaces.
s Delete Original Elements
Base Entity List Apply The model should appear as follows: Elm 1003:1038
26.
To get a better view of the model, apply the following:
and Display/Plot Erase... Erase All Geometry Click the repaint button in the Main window and your model should appear as shown below.
Change the display back to Wireframe and Plot All Entities.
27.
Associate the nite elements of the base part of model to the geometric solid.
Create Finite Element
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Associate Element Solid
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Post Extension Part of Model
Element List Solid List Apply
(select all hex elements on screen) Solid 6
When the process is done, the number of nodes that have been associated to the solid will be shown in the command window. 28. Now, post only the extension part of the model.
Post Extension Part of Model
Group/Post ... Select Groups to Post Apply Cancel 29. Change the display of your viewport as follows: Select the following icon: Iso 1 View geo_extension
The extension part of the model:
Y 1
30.
Next, create some solids at the model.
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Preparing Geometry for a Hex Mesh
Frist you must create a surface on top
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Option: Starting Curve List Ending Curve List Apply Now Create the solids Create Surface Curve
2 Curve Curve 1 Surface 3.4
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Option: Starting Surface List Ending Surface List Apply Create Solid Surface
Create Solids Using Surface Method
2 Surface Surface 34 Surface 5
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Create Solids Using Surface Method
Solid 1 should appear as shown below.
24
Solid 1 X
Using Surface 3 and 4, perform the above procedure again to create solid 2. Option: Starting Surface List Ending Surface List Apply 2 Surface Surface 3 Surface 4
Solid 2 Z X
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31. Next, create surfaces using decompose method as follow:
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Surface Surface Vertex 1 List Surface Vertex 2 List Surface Vertex 3 List Create Surface Decompose
Decompose Surfaces
Surface 25 Point 16 Point 25 Point 26
For the rst 3 vertices, use the point select icon
For the fourth vertex, rst select the second icon in the select menu, edge point:
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Decompose Surfaces
then select a point at the circular edge as follows:
16
Select a point on this curve
25 Y 26
Surface Vertex 4 List Apply
Surface 25 (u 0.744...
Your model should appear as follows:
New Surface 27
Perform the above procedure again using the following 2D elements entities: Surface Surface 25
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For the rst, second and third vertex, use the point pick icon in the select menu to pick the point.
Again, to pick the fourth vertex, use the second icon in the select menu.
Surface Vertex 1 List Surface Vertex 2 List Surface Vertex 3 List Surface Vertex 4 List Apply
Point 9 Point 16 Point 43
(Point on curve as shown below)
9 16
Point to Pick 43 Y
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Decompose Surfaces
Your model should appear as follow:
New Surface 28
Once again, Surface Vertex 1 List Surface Vertex 2 List Surface Vertex 3 List Surface Vertex 4 List Apply Point 44 Point 27 Point 12 Point 9
New Surface
28
29 Y
44
27
27 27 Z X 12
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Preparing Geometry for a Hex Mesh
32. Next, using extrude method to create solid 3, 4 and 5 as shown below.
x Geometry Action: Object: Method: Create Solid Extrude
Create Solid Using Extrude Method
Now click the Translation Vector databox and then select the following icons in the select menu:
First select this icon:
Then select this:
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Create Solid Using Extrude Method
Select point 12 to point 11 as the Direction Vector.
28
27 29 Y
12 11
t Autoexecute Translation Vector Surface List Apply Your model should appear as shown below. Con..(Point 12)..(point 11).. Surface 27 28 29
4 5 Y
X 5
New Solids
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33. Create a group for the nite elements of the extension part of model.
Group/Create New Group Name fem_extension
s Make Current Apply Cancel 34. Change the view to Iso 1 View and then create a mesh on the model as follows:
Create Group
Create Mesh
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Global Edge Length Element Topology 4 Hex 8 Create Mesh Solid
x Isomesh Solid List Apply Solid 1:5 (Select all solids on screen)
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Create Group
The meshed model is shown below.
Create Group
35.
Create a group for all the geometric part of the model.
Group/Create New Group Name Group Contents: Apply After that, create a group for all the nite elements of the model. New Group Name fem geo Add All Geometry
s Make Current s Unpost all other groups
Group Contents: Apply Cancel Add All FEM
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The following should show up in your viewport.
36.
Equivalence the model.
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Method: Apply 37. Verify the model. Equivalence All Tolerance Cube
Equivalence the Model
x Finite Elements Action: Object: Test: Display Type Apply Verify Element Boundaries
Verify the Model
x Free Edges
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Verify the Model
The following should show up in your viewport.
38.
Finally, change the display of the model as follows:
Display/ Entity Color/Label/Render... Render Style: Apply Element Fill
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Your model should appear as show below.
Reset the Render Style back to Wireframe. 39. Close the database and quit PATRAN to complete this exercise.
