ELEATION’s ANSYS Basic to Professional
Training Program
Session 11: Theory of 2D Meshing
Recap…..!!!!
In Session 10 : We have learned
How to Perform Free-Free Run Analysis to check
connectivity of CAD model
In Session 11 : We will learn
Theory of 2D Meshing
When to Use 2D Elements
Why is 2-D meshing is carried out on the mid surface?
2D Element Shapes
How not to Mesh
Elements Quality
2-D Meshing
When to Use 2-D Elements
2-D elements are used when two of the dimensions are very large in comparison to the third
dimension
Element shape : Quad, tria
Additional data from user : Remaining dimension i.e. thickness
Practical applications : Sheet metal parts, plastic components like instrument panel etc.
Why is 2-D meshing is carried out on the mid surface?
Quite often the geometry of thin walled 3D structures, is
simplified to a geometric model with lower dimensionality.
This is typically called a mid-surface model. The midsurface
model is then meshed with 2-D elements. Thus, there is no
need for a detailed volume mesh as the thickness of the
geometry is virtually assigned to the 2-D elements.
Mathematically, the element thickness (specified by the
user) is assigned with half in the Positive direction
(element top) and the other half in the Negative direction
(element bottom).
Types of 2D Elements
Shape Stiffness
How Not to Mesh
Back to back triangles should be avoided. Two tria elements should not
be connected to each other directly.
No mesh transition on constant radius fillets / curvatures. The mesh transition should be
carried out on the planer surfaces
Avoid tria elements on outer edges or holes
holes should be modeled carefully with a washer (1.5 to 2 times diameter) and a minimum
of two layers of elements should be created around the hole.
Holes should be modeled with an even number of equally spaced elements:
For a better representation of the hole geometry and smooth mesh flow lines, holes should
be modeled with an even number of elements (like 6, 8, 12,16 etc. rather than 5, 7, 9 or 13).
Element Quality and Checks
Element quality is a subject often talked about and never fully understood. The reason for
this is complex but is related to the fact that quality is relative and the solution, by
definition, is approximate. In the formulation of finite elements a local parametric
coordinate system is assumed for each element type and how well the physical coordinate
systems, both element and global, match the parametric dictates element quality. Below you
see some graphics representing element quality and you should attempt to follow them,
however, there will be a point of diminishing return if you try too hard to get every element
within the acceptance criteria. Your judgment is your only guide in those cases. Always
perform quality checks on the meshes you create. Check with “local experts” regarding the
appropriate values for each element type required by your element checking computer
programs. Be aware that, in these situations, “correct” answers can vary a great deal as
illustrated in the following table where the range between “OK” and “very poor” is quiet
wide.
Element Quality and Checks
Warp angle: warp angle is the out of plane angle
Ideal value = 00 (Acceptable < 100).
Warp angle is not applicable for triangular elements.
It is defined as the angle between the normals to two planes formed by splitting the quad
element along the diagonals. The maximum angle of the two possible angles is reported as
the warp angle.
Aspect = maximum element edge length / minimum element edge length
Ideal value = 1 (Acceptable < 5).
Jacobian:
Ideal value = 1.0 (Acceptable > 0.6 )
In simple terms, the Jacobian is a scale factor arising because of the transformation of the
coordinate system. Elements are transformed from the global coordinates to local
coordinates (defined at the centroid of every element), for faster analysis times.
Included angles :
Included or interior angle check is applied for individual angles.
Quad Ideal value = 900. (Acceptable = 450 < θ <1350)
Tria: Ideal value = 600 (Acceptable = 200 < θ < 1200)
2D Process for Any CAE Software
Theory of 2D Geometry Meshing Performing Elements
Elements and Editing Quality in software
Element Quality
Checks
CAE Process
Pre-Processing Solver Post-Processing
Geometry View the Contor of
Meshing Stress / Displacement
Elements and Nodes ANSYS View the graphs
Material
Property
Loading Condition Mechanical
Type of Analysis
Design Modeller
Mechanical
Thank you for attending Session 11
In session 12, we are going to cover:
How to perform 2D Geometry Editing
How to generate Mid-Surface in Design Modeler (ANSYS)
For any queries/doubts, feel free to contact us via:
[email protected]
www.eleation.com
