FEM MeshShape

Description

The FEM MeshShape command can be used to set mesh size within and outside of a geometric shape (box, sphere or cylinder).

Task panel of the MeshShape tool

Usage

1. To enable the command a Mesh From Shape by Gmsh must be provided first.
2. Select the Mesh object in the Tree View.
3. There are several ways to invoke the command:
   • Press the Shape-Based Refinement button.
   • Select the Mesh → GMSH Refinements → Shape-Based Refinement option from the menu.
4. Edit the size inside and outside of the shape as well as the thickness of the transition layer between the in/out mesh sizes (added outside of the shape).
5. Select the shape from the drop-down list and adjust its location and size using the input fields or 3D View draggers:
   • Box - set the center coordinates, length, width and height
   • Sphere - set the center coordinates and radius
   • Cylinder - set the center coordinates, axis and radius
6. Click the OK button.
7. Close the task.

   Result: You now should see a new Shape object under the FEMMeshGmsh object in your active analysis container.

8. Double-click on the FEMMeshGmsh parent object in your Model Tree and press Apply to force a mesh recalculation.
9. Close the task.

After the mesh has been created you can change its properties using the Property View. After you changed a property, you must reopen the Gmsh dialog again and click the Apply button. (You can leave the dialog open while changing properties.)

You can create as many different shape-based refinements as needed.

Example of a shape-based mesh refinement using a sphere