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Workshop 4.1 CFD: Local Mesh Controls

Introduction to ANSYS Meshing

1 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Introduction
Background
• This workshop will demonstrate how multiple methods
and local controls can be combined to create a
conformal hybrid mesh on a multibody part (valve
geometry)

Objectives
• Methods
– MultiZone, Sweep, Patch conforming Tetrahedrons
• Local Sizing
– Edge & Face
• Local Inflation
• Selective Meshing

2 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Starting Workbench
Create the Workbench Project:

• From the Workbench File Menu, select Import and

browse to the file “valve.meshdat” located in the
Meshing Workshops Input-Files folder and open it
• Drag a Mesh Component System and drop on Cell
A2 of the Geometry System as shown
– This will attach the Mesh Component System to the
Geometry System

• Start ANSYS Meshing by double clicking on the

Mesh Cell (A3) of the Mesh System

3 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Units and Preferences

Set Global Meshing Options:

• Set Physics Preference to CFD
• Set Solver Preference to FLUENT

• In the Units menu set Metric (mm,

kg, N, s, mV, Ma)

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 Model
Review the Geometry
• The geometry represents a valve with one inlet distributed through a central spherical
region to three outlets
– A mesh will be generated on the fluid region only in this workshop
• In the Outline expand Geometry, right click on Part2 and select Suppress Body from the
Context Menu as shown
– This will suppress all bodies contained within Part2 which represents the solid outer region
in this case. The (transparent) fluid region will be displayed

5 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Preparation
Planning
• In the Outline, right click on Mesh and select Show
Sweepable Bodies
– Three of the five bodies could be meshed using the Sweep
Method
– The central region is complex and therefore will be meshed
using the Patch Conforming Tetrahedral Method
– The remaining body cannot be swept using the standard sweep
method since it contains multiple source faces as shown
– MultiZone will however be able to sweep this
In the Graphics Window ,
right click View  Left or
click the –X Axis on the
Triad to view

6 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Set Global Mesh Options
Setup Advanced Size Functions:

• To adequately capture the curved geometric

features a Curvature Size Function will be used

• Leave all other options to default as shown

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 Named Selections (1)
Create Named Selections:
• Switch the view to isometric and ensure the Selection Filter is set to Face
• Select the face as shown, right click in the Graphics Window and select Create Named
Selection from the Context Menu
• In the Selection Name Dialog Box set the name to “Inlet” and click OK

8 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Named Selections (2)
Create Named Selections (Continued)
• Using the same procedure create Named Selections for the two faces as shown
(Outlet1 & Outlet2)

Outlet2

Outlet1

9 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Named Selections (3)
Create Named Selections (Continued)
• In the Graphics Window, right click and select View  Left (or use the Triad -X). Zoom
in as shown
• Select one of the four small circular faces, right click  Create Named Selection
• In the Selection Name Dialog Box set the name as “Outlet3” and select Apply
geometry items of same  Size as shown. Click OK

10 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Named Selections (4)
Create Named Selections (Continued)
• In the Outline, expand Named Selections and click on Outline3.
– The worksheet details the method by which the Named Selection is scoped to faces – in this
case by size. Switch to Graphics by clicking on the button
– Note that the Named Selection contains all four identical faces

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 MultiZone Method
Setup MultiZone for the Non-Sweepable Body:
• Multizone method can be used to mesh cases where
multiple source faces are there (Sweep supports only
single Source face)
• Click Mesh in the Outline
• Switch the view to isometric , set the Selection Filter to
Body and select the non sweepable body as shown
• Right click  Insert  Method
• Under Details of “Automatic-Method” change Method
to Multizone
– The Details view will now be named Details of
“Multizone”
– Set Surface Mesh Method to “Uniform”
• Leave all other settings to default as shown

12 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Local Sizing (1)
Insert Face Sizing:
• In the Outline, under Named Selections right click on Outlet3 and click
Select Items in Group
– This will select all the faces contained within that Named Selection
• In the Outline, right click on Mesh and select Insert  Sizing
Note: that the Details of “Face Sizing” has the Geometry Selection populated
with the 4 faces within the Named Selection. You can also use Named Selections
directly under Scoping Method

– Set Element Size to 0.5mm

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 Local Sizing (2)
Insert Edge Sizing:
• Select the Edge Selection Filter 1
• The inlet and outlet faces are bound by four edges
each 2
• Select one edge on each of the four faces as shown (ctrl
left click for multiple selection) 3 4
• Select Extend to Limits to extend the selection to the
complete edge loops

• In the Outline, right click on Mesh and select Insert 

Sizing
• Check that Geometry contains 16 edges
• Set Element Size to 0.8mm as shown
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 Local Sizing (3)
Insert Edge Sizing (Continued):
• A preview of the Edge Sizing will be displayed on the geometry

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 Local Sizing (4)
Insert Edge Sizing 2:
• Create another Edge Sizing this time to control
the Multizone sweep
• Select the edge as shown circled and insert
sizing as previously

• Under Details of “Edge Sizing 2” set Element

Size to 2.0mm

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 Sweep Method (1)
Insert a Sweep Method:
• The three remaining cylindrical bodies can
be swept using the Sweep
• Set the Selection Filter to Body , select
the three bodies as shown and right click 
Insert  Method
• Under Details of “Automatic-Method”
change Method to Sweep
– The Details view will now be named Details
of “Sweep Method”
• Set Type to Element Size and set Sweep
Element Size to 2.0mm

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 Sweep Method (2)
Insert a Sweep Method (Continued)
• Set the Source & Target Selection (Src/Trg Selection) to
Manual Source
– If the box adjacent to Source displays “No Selection” with a
yellow background click in the yellow box to activate
• Select the three faces as shown and apply the selection in the
box adjacent to Source

• Check the Details match those shown

18 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Patch Conforming Tetrahedral Method

Insert Patch Conforming Tetrahedral Method

• Use the Body Selection Filter to select the
central body as shown
• Right click  Insert  Method
• Under Details of “Automatic-Method” change
Method to Tetrahedrons
– The Details view will now be named Details of
“Patch Conforming Method”
• Ensure Algorithm is set to Patch Conforming

19 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Inflation (1)
Inflate the MultiZone Method
• Right click on MultiZone in the Outline and select “Inflate
This Method” from the Context Menu

• Under Boundary in Details of “Inflation” select the four

faces bounding the MultiZone body and apply the
selection

• Set Inflation Option to Total Thickness, Number of Layers to

3 and Maximum Thickness to 1.25mm as shown

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 Inflation (2)
Inflate the Sweep Methods:
• Right click on Sweep Method in the Outline and select “Inflate
This Method” from the Context Menu
• Under Boundary in Details of “Inflation 2” select one edge on
each of the three Source Faces as shown
– Use the Extend to Limits Tool again to complete the selection
– Apply the selection and Set Inflation Option to Total
Thickness, Number of Layers to 3 and Maximum Thickness to
1.25mm as shown

1 3

21 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Inflation (3)
Inflate the Patch Conforming Method
• Select the four cylindrical bodies, right click in
the Graphics Window and select “Hide Body”
(or press F9)
– This will make boundary selection easier in the
next step
• Right click on Patch Conforming Method in the
Outline and select “Inflate This Method” from
the Context Menu

• Under Boundary in Details of “Inflation 3” all

faces of the central body must be selected
with the exception of those separating the
four cylindrical bodies

22 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Inflation (4)
Inflate the Patch Conforming Method (Continued)
• Under Details of “Inflation 3” activate the Boundary Selection
Box 4 3
– Apply/Cancel buttons appear when active
• In the Graphics Window right click and click Select All from the
Context Menu
– All faces will be selected
1 2
• Deselect the four faces as shown by clicking ctrl left click on
each face
– Faces will turn blue when deselected
• Apply the selection under Details of “Inflation 3” (check 25
Faces are selected)
• Set Inflation Option to Total Thickness, Number of Layers to 3
and Maximum Thickness to 1.25mm as shown
• In the Graphics Window right click  Show All Bodies

23 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Selective Meshing (1)
Start Selective Meshing
• When combining multiple mesh methods the
order in which the bodies are meshed may
influence the final mesh characteristics
• Generating meshes one by one is called
“Selective Meshing”
• It is therefore recommended that we record
the body meshing order such that it can be
repeated automatically
• Right click on Mesh in the Outline and select
Start Recording from the Context Menu
• If the Worksheet is displayed switch it off
using the worksheet Toggle button

24 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Selective Meshing (2)
Generate the MultiZone Mesh
• Using the Body Selection Filter select the
MultiZone body
• Right click and select “Generate Mesh on
Selected Bodies”
• The Worksheet will record the operation as
Step 1
• Switch off the Worksheet and view the mesh

• Note how MultiZone has imprinted all source

faces onto the target
• Press “Show Mesh”

25 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Selective Meshing (3)
Generate the Sweep Meshes
• Select the three Sweepable bodies

• Right click and select “Generate Mesh on

Selected Bodies”

• This operation is again recorded in the

Worksheet, this time as Step 2

• Switch to Graphics mode to view the Mesh

26 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Selective Meshing (4)
Generate the Tetrahedral Mesh
• Select the central Tetrahedral mesh body

• Right click and select “Generate Mesh on

Selected Bodies”

• All three steps are now recorded in the

Worksheet

27 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 View Mesh Interior (1)
Create a Section Plane
• In the Graphics Window, right click and
select View  Front to align the view to
+Z Axis
• Click the New Section Plane button

• Click and drag the cursor through the

model as shown from top to bottom
• Align the model to +X Axis (Right click
View  Right)
• Note the continuous and conformal mesh
& inflation between methods
28 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017
 View Mesh Interior (2)
Create a Section Plane (Continued)
• Switch off Section Plane 1 and Align the
model to -X Axis (Right click View  Left)
• Click the New Section Plane button
• Click and drag the cursor through the
model as shown from top to bottom
• Restore the view to the +Z Axis (Front)
• Note the swept MultiZone mesh
• Switch off all Section Planes

29 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Check Quality (1)
Set a Mesh Metric
• Under Details of “Mesh” expand the Quality Menu and set Mesh Metric to
Orthogonal Quality
– Note the value of Min Quality (your values may vary from values shown below)

30 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Check Quality (2)
Use the Mesh Metrics Graph to View Quality Ranges
• Click the Controls button in the Mesh Metrics Graph and set the
Max value for the X-Axis to 0.1 and Number of Bars 1. Click
Update Y-axis and exit the Controls Panel
• Select the bar in the Metrics Graph and view the Graphics
Window to locate the small number of cells below a quality of 0.1
(Please note that you may have different results for Min & Max
quality)

31 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Improving Quality
• On investigating the shown elements, it appears
that the bad elements are in inflation layer near the
sharp locations where some pipes meet central
body
• We can change some Advanced options
• Under Inflation, select “View Advanced Options” to Yes
• Change the Collision Avoidance method to “Stair Stepping”
from “Layer Compression” and change the Max height to 0.7
• This operation will delete the mesh (It will still be visible as
Obsolete mesh in yellow color)
• Now, from Meshing Worksheet, press Generate Mesh
button This will recreate the mesh in meshing order as
recorded earlier
• Check Orthogonal Quality again. Min value is now above 0.1

32 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017

 Save the Project

• This completes the workshop

• From the main menu select File  Close Meshing
– Workbench will save any application data

• From the Workbench Project Page use the file menu and save
the project as “AMWS4.1_cfd.wbpj” to your working folder

33 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. March 31, 2017