Lecture3 IntroductiontoANSYSMeshing

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IntroductiontoANSYS Meshing
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IntroductiontoANSYSMeshing
Whatyouwilllearnfromthispresentation:

WhatistheANSYSMeshing? HowtolaunchANSYSMeshing? ANSYSMeshinggraphicsuserinterface Meshingmethods Meshcontrols Geometryconcepts

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PreprocessingWorkflow
GeometryCreation OR GeometryImport Geometry Operations Meshing Solver

Sketches and Planes 3D Operations

Extrude, Revolve, Sweep, etc

3D Operations
Boolean, Body Operations, Split, etc

Meshing Methods
Hybrid Mesh: Tet, Prisms, Pyramids

Geometry Import Options

Direct CAD/BiDirectional CAD

Geometry Cleanup and Repair

Automatic Cleanup Merge, Connect, Projection, Flow Volume Extraction, etc

Hexa Dominant, Sweep meshing Assembly Meshing

Global Mesh Settings Local Mesh Settings

Sizing, Body/Sphere of Influence, Match Control, etc

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WhatisANSYSMeshing?
ANSYSMeshingisacomponentofANSYSWorkbench

Nextgenerationmeshingplatform CombinesstrengthsofpreprocessingofferingsfromANSYS:ICEMCFD,
TGRID,CFXMesh,Gambit PlantocompletefullintegrationbyR15

CreatesMeshfordifferentPhysicsandSolvers

CFD:Fluent,CFXandPOLYFLOW Mechanical:Explicitdynamics,Implicit Electromagnetic

IntegratesdirectlywithotherWBsystems

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MeshingProcessinANSYSMeshing
Physics,Sizing,Inflation,Pinch,etc.
Adjust settings if necessary

Sizing,Refine,Pinch,Inflation,etc

PreviewSurfaceMesh,Inflation

MeshMetrics,Charts

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LaunchingANSYSMeshing
FromAnalysisSystems
Ex:FluidFlow(Fluent),FluidFlow(CFX)

FromComponentSystems
Ex:Mesh

ANSYSMeshingislaunchedwithinWorkbench DoubleclickMeshintheSystemorrightclickandselectEdit
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ANSYSMeshingGraphicsUserInterface
Toolbars Graphics Window Outline

Details View Message Window

Status/Info Bar
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Units Bar Entity Details Bar

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Outline
TheOutlinecontainsthreedefaultsections

Geometry
Bodies CoordinateSystems Defaultglobal&userdefinedsystems Mesh Meshingoperations(controls&methods) displayedintheorderinwhichtheyare inserted
Rightclickcontext menuforMesh object RMBclickonMesh

Rightclickingonanyobjectinthetree launchesacontextsensitivemenu
Example:Contextmenuformeshobject containscommandstogenerate,preview, clearmeshetc.
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DetailsView
AccessingObjectDetails

IfanobjectintheOutlineisselected
detailsrelatingtothatobjectare displayedintheDetailsViewbelow Example:Selectingabody(Fluid) intheOutlinedisplaysDetailsof Fluidwhichcontainsgraphical andgeometricdetails Foraccesstomeshingdetailsclick theMeshobjectoranyofthe insertedobjects

TheDetailsViewprovidesoptionsto
review,editorinputvaluesforevery objectintheTree
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GeometryConfiguration MultipleParts
HandlingofMultipleParts

Whenmultiplepartsareattachedto
aMeshingsessionaContactRegion isautomaticallycreatedbetween thoseparts 2FacesatContactRegion Eachpartmeshedindependently Resultsinanonconformal interfacebetweenthetwoparts (meshnodesonbodiesdonotline upandarenotconnected) GridInterfaceinFluentorGGIin CFXcanbedefinedforthefacesat thecontactregion
Independent Faces
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ContactRegion

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GeometryConfiguration MultiBody Parts

HandlingofMultiBodyParts

InDM,whereSharedTopologyisset
toAutomatic(default) Facesincontactimprinted&fused toformasinglefaceshared betweenthetwobodies ResultsinConformalmesh CommonfaceactsasInteriorzone inFluent
DMPart Details

Common SharedFace

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GeometryConfiguration Multibody Parts

HandlingofMultiBodyParts

InDM,whereSharedTopologyisset
toImprints Theboundariesofthefacesat contactregionareimprintedon eachotherresultinginlikefaces ContactRegionisautomatically createdatlikefaces ResultsinNonconformalinterface GridInterfaceinFluentorGGIin CFXcanbedefinedforthefacesat thecontactregion Tocreateidenticalmeshonthe likefacesuseMatchControl option(meshwillremain unconnected)
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TwoLikeFaces

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MeshingMethodsfor3DGeometry
Sixmeshingmethodsavailablefor3Dgeometries:

Tetrahedrons
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PatchConforming(TGrid based)&PatchIndependent(ICEM CFDbased) Sweep Generatesprismsorhexahedral MultiZone Mainlyhexahedralelements HexDominant CutCell mesh GeneratesCartesianCutCell mesh Automatic CombinesTetrahedralPatchConforming&SweepMesh basedoncomplexityofthegeometry Interoperabilitybetweendifferentmeshingmethods
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MeshingMethodsfor3DGeometry Examples
Tetrahedral Mesh Sweep Meshing Automatic (Tetrahedral& Sweep)

Multizone Meshing

CutCell Meshing

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MeshingMethodsfor2DGeometry
Fourmeshingmethodsavailablefor2Dgeometries:

AutomaticMethod(QuadDominant) Triangles UniformQuad/Tri UniformQuad

Triangle (Tri)

Quadrilateral (Quad)

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MeshingProcessinANSYSMeshing

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GlobalMeshControls
AllowsdefinitionofGlobalMeshsettings

Defaults:SetPhysicsandSolverpreferences Sizing:Specifysizingfunction(curvature,
proximity,fixed),meshsizes,growthrate,etc. Inflation:Prismlayergrowth AssemblyMeshing:Assemblymeshingmethod (None/CutCell/Tetrahedrons) PatchConformingOptions:TriSurfaceMesher Advanced:Advancedmeshparameters Defeaturing :Ignoresmallfeaturesingeometry forimprovingmeshquality Statistics:Viewmeshcountandmeshquality

HowtoAccess

DisplayedunderDetailsofMeshwhenthe
MeshobjectisselectedintheOutline
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MeshingProcessinANSYSMeshing

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LocalMeshControls
WhatareLocalMeshControls?

Usedtocontrolthemeshlocallyby
scopingthefollowingoptionsto geometricentities(bodies,faces, edges)asrequired Sizing ContactSizing Refinement MappedFaceMeshing MatchControl Pinch Inflation

Insertinglocalcontrols usingContextMenu

HowtoAccess

Contextmenuaccessedbyright
clickingMeshinOutline
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LocalControlsinOutline
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VirtualTopology
Without VT With VT

Whentouse?

Tomergetogetheranumberofsmall
(connected)faces/edges Tosimplifysmallfeaturesinthe model Tosimplifyloadabstractionfor mechanicalanalysis Tocreateedgesplitsforbetter controlofthesurfacemeshcontrol

Virtualcellsmodifytopology

OriginalCADmodelremains
unchanged Newfacetedgeometryiscreated withvirtualtopology
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MeshingProcessinANSYSMeshing

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MeshGeneration
HowtoGenerateaMesh

RightclickMeshinthetreeforcontext
menu GenerateMesh Generatesentirevolumemeshonall bodies Rightclickonindividualbodiesto generatemeshonselectedbody Preview Generatessurfaceorinflationmeshonly Allowssurfaceorinflationmeshquality tobecheckedbeforevolumemeshing NotavailablewhenusingPatch IndependentTetrahedron,MultiZone orCutCell methods
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NamedSelections
Usedtoassignanametooneor
moreselectedentities CanbecreatedinMeshingby selectingentity(s)andrightclickor thosecreatedinDMorCADcanbe transferredtoMeshing EntitieswithinaNamedSelection mustbeofthesametopology (edge/surface/volume) Easytoreselectgroupsthatwillbe referencedoften Namedselectionsareautomatically exportedtosolvermoduleslike FluentorCFXPre ListedunderNamedSelections objectinOutline
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NamedSelections
NamedSelectionscanbeappliedto
theentitiesofthesamesize,typeor location,byusingselectionoptions Aworksheetenablesselection criteriatobemodifiedandNamed Selectionsregeneratedusingnew criteriaifrequired

Dropdownboxesdisplayoptions Worksheettogglebutton
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MeshingProcessinANSYSMeshing

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MeshStatisticsandMeshMetrics
DisplaysglobalNode/Elementcountandquality
ForperbodystatisticsselectbodyinTree QualitydefinedbyMetrics; ElementQuality AspectRatio JacobeanRation WarpingFactor ParallelDeviation MaximumCornerAngle Skewness OrthogonalQuality Showsmin,max,averageandstandarddeviation Differentphysicsanddifferentsolvershave differentcriteriaformeshquality
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MeshMetricGraph
IfMeshStatisticsinformusthatthe
worstqualitydoesnotmeetourcriteria weneedtolocatethoseelements DisplaysMeshMetricsgraphforthe elementqualitydistribution Differentelementtypesareplotted withdifferentcolour bars Canbetoggledthroughmenubar usingMetricGraphbutton Clickonrequiredbartosee correspondingelementsinthe graphicsview Enablesproblemelementstobe quicklylocated Usercancontrolthehistogramdisplay byclickingtheControlsbutton
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SectionPlanes
Displaysinternalmeshelements

CreateSectionPlanebutton Elementsoneithersideofplanecan
bedisplayed Togglebetweencutorwhole elementsdisplay Multiplesectionplanesareallowed Switchon/offusingthecheckbox intheSectionPlaneswindow

Forlargemeshes(100,000+),itis
advisabletoswitchtowireframe viewmode(mainmenuortoolbar button),createthesectionplaneand thengobacktomeshmodel
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ParameterizationinANSYSMeshing
ParameterizedMeshingcontrols

Globalcontrolsandlocalcontrols Selectionofparameterpromotesthe
parametertotheWBprojectpage SameprocessasDM GeometryandMeshingparameterscanbe relatedusingexpressionsintheparameter manager Example Parameterizededgesizing

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ParameterizationExample
Inthisexampletheparameterisededgesizingisexpressedasafunctionofthe
lengthparameter(fromDM).ExpressionscreatedinWorkbench.
Length=1mDivisions=10

Length=1.5mDivisions=15

NumberofDivisions=10xLength
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Workshop1 ANSYSMeshingBasics
Workshopsarecontainedwithinthe
ANSYS_Meshing_R14.0foldersupplied. SeveralWorkshopsrequiresupporting fileswhichcanbefoundintheInputFiles Folder. Precompletedprojectsforeach WorkshoparesuppliedintheCompleted Workshopsfolderforyourconvenience.

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Appendix
Contents

StandardToolbar ModelToolbar MeshToolbar CoordinateSystems NamedSelectionsasBoundaryConditions Connections

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Standardtoolbar
Createsectionalplanetoviewcutsectionof geometryand
mesh Addatextcomment(tag)inGraphicswindow Addcomments(notes)withincurrentlyhighlightedbranchin OutlineTree CaptureFiguresandImagesofgraphicsview.

ImageisastaticscreenshotofmodelFigureisdynamic screenshot AccessWorksheetforrecordedmeshoperationsorName Selectioncriteria

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Standardtoolbar
Showallverticesonthemodel Togglewireframemodeonoroff Edgecolouringbybodycolour,byconnectionorinblackcolour

Showedges/faceswithfree(0,blue),single(1,red),double(2,black), triple(3,magenta)andmultiple(x,yellow)connectivity Displayedgedirectionsense Edgethickeningbyconnection

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Modeltoolbar
ActivewhenModelobjectisselectedinOutlinetree VirtualTopology:Createvirtualentitiesbymergingsmallfacesand/or
edgestoimprovemeshing Symmetry:DefineSymmetricportionsofgeometrywithsymmetry planes Connections:DefineContactregions,Interfaces,etc. MeshNumbering:Renumberingthenodesandelements NamedSelections:Definenamedselections

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Meshtoolbar

ActivewhenMeshobjectisselectedinOutlinetree Update:Updategeometry,generatemeshorwriteoutputdata Mesh:GenerateorpreviewmeshinANSYSMeshing MeshControl:ContainslistofmeshingcontrolslikeMeshmethod, Sizing,Inflation,etc.thatcanbeinsertedintheoutlinetree MetricGraph:Displayorhidethemeshmetricsgraph Options:OpenMeshingOptionspanelfordefiningPhysicspreference andMeshmethod

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CoordinateSystems
CreatenewCoordinatesystems RequiredduringMatchControl
operation Globalcoordinatesystemisavailable bydefault Followingtransformationscanbe performedonnewcoordinatesystem Offset(x) Rotate(x) Flip(x)

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NamedSelectionsasBoundaryConditions
NamedSelectionsarealsousedtoassignnamestoBoundaryZonesandCellZonesandreference
thoseintheSolverslikeFluentorCFX.ParticularlytheNamedSelectionscanbeusedtogroup regionsforCFXPre InFluent,appropriateboundarytypeisautomaticallyassignediftheNamedSelectionlabel containsthekeywordspertainingtotheboundarytype ExamplesofhowtheNamedSelectionscanbeusedtoautomaticallyassignboundarycondition typesinFluent: A3Dbodycanbeassignedanamedselectionoffluid_1ifthatbodyrepresentsafluid domain.Fluentwillassignazonetypeoffluidtothatcellzonewhenthemeshistransferredto Fluent IfasetoffacesareassignedaNamedSelectionlabelofpressure_far_field_2,Fluentwill assigntheboundarytypeofpressurefarfieldwhenthemeshisimportedtoFluent.Notethat thenamecanbeanyvariationcontainingthekeywordspressure,far,andfield,like far_pressure_field_2,orfarpressurefield_2orpressurefarfield_2anditwillstillbe recognizedaspressurefarfieldboundarytypewhentransferredtoFluent ANamedSelectionlabelcontainingthekeywordinletandnootherkeywordspertainingto otherboundaryconditiontypeswillbeassignedaVelocityInletboundaryconditiontype. Similarly,aNamedSelectionlabelcontainingthekeywordoutletandnootherkeywords pertainingtootherboundaryconditiontypeswillbeassignedaPressureOutletboundary conditiontype WallboundarytypeisassignedtoaNamedSelectionlabelcontainingWallorifitdoesnt containkeywordsmatchingotherboundarytypes
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Connections
Connectionsareusedtoestablishsurfacetosurfacecontactbetween
twoparts,mainlyusedforMechanicalAnalysis ThesecontactregionsareautomaticallyresolvedduringaMechanical analysis,butwillnotberesolvedinaCFDanalysis Toresolvethem,thefacesinthecontactregionsshouldbemadeintoa NamedSelectionanddefinedasInterfacezonesinANSYSFluentor GeneralGridInterfaceinANSYSCFX. Whetherameshinconformalornonconformaldependsonhowthe geometrywasconfiguredinDM MultipleParts(=NonConformalMesh) MultibodywithSharedtopologyasImprint(=NonConformalMesh) MultibodypartwithSharedTopologyasAutomatic(=Conformal Mesh) However,PatchIndependenttetrahedronmeshingmethodwith MatchMeshWherePossibleoptionmaygenerateconformalgrids whateveristheSharedTopologyMethodusedinDM
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