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Generate-mesh

The GENERATE-MESH module takes a previously defined geometry and fits a finite element mesh to it under the interactive direction of the user.

This documentation is taken directly from the Moviestar help files and included here in a hyper-text format for your convenience.

More information available:

• Coincident-node-check
• Create
• Defaults
• Delete
• Element
• Node
• Normals-check
• Process
• Save

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Coincident-node-check

The COINCIDENT-NODE-CHECK command enables or disables the identification of nodes with the same spacial position but different node numbers.

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Create

The CREATE command generates a mesh of elements or points for a selected region of the geometry.

Element

Selecting the ELEMENT command enables the generation of elements in the geometry region.

Line

Generate line elements (i.e. beam or truss) for the lines, surfaces and solids selected.

Solid

Generate solid elements (i.e. solid hexahedrons, solid, pentahedrons, solid tetrahedrons, solid wedges, etc.) for the solids selected.

Surface

Generate surface elements (i.e. axi-triangles, axi- quadrilaterals, quadrilaterals, thick shell quads, etc.) for the surfaces selected.

Node

Selecting the NODE command enables the generation of node points in the geometry region without generating the element connectivities.

Line

Generate node points along the edges of lines, surfaces, and solids. Do not generate node points on the interior of a surface or solid.

Solid

Generate node points throughout a solid.

Surface

Generate node points on the surface of geometric surfaces and solids. Do not generate node points on the interior of a solid.

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Defaults

The DEFAULTS command allows the user to specify whether to automatically save the mesh after it is created, to select the order of the elements generated, to select the element type generated, etc.

Auto-save

The AUTO-SAVE command enables or disables the saving of the mesh after it is created. If the mesh is not saved, it is overwritten when another mesh is created.

Auto-scale

The AUTO-SCALE command does nothing since the developers do not know what it is suppose to do.

Order

The ORDER command is used to select the default element order, linear, parabolic, or cubic, (i.e. degree 1, 2, or 3 respectively).

Cubic

Select elements of degree 3 (cubic) as the default. These elements are characterized as having 2 mid-side nodes.

Linear

Select elements of degree 1 (linear) as the default. These elements are characterized as having no mid-side nodes.

Parabolic

Select elements of degree 2 (parabolic) as the default. These elements are characterized as having 1 mid-side node.

Tolerance

Set the default tolerance. This tolerance is used in the COINCIDENT-NODE-CHECK command. Nodes closer together than the tolerance are considered to occupy the same spacial position.

Type

Set the default element type.

Axi-quadrilateral

Select an axisymmetric quadrilateral as the default element.

Axi-triangle

Select an axisymmetric triangle as the default element.

Beam

Select an beam as the default element.

Quadrilateral

Select an quadrilateral as the default element.

Solid-hexahedron

Select an solid hexahedron as the default element.

Solid-pentahedron

Select an solid pentahedron as the default element.

Solid-tetrahedron

Select an solid tetrahedron as the default element.

Solid-wedge

Select an solid wedge as the default element.

Thick-shell

Select an thick shell quadrilateral as the default element.

Thick-shell-wedge

Select an thick shell wedge as the default element.

Triangle

Select an triangle as the default element.

Truss

Select an truss (bar) as the default element.

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Delete

Delete a previously meshed and saved region.

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Element

Generate an element using manual techniques in contrast with the CREATE command which automatically fills a region with elements.

Create

Create an element by specifying the element type, its connectivity and its geometry and material property numbers.

Delete

Delete a previously defined element.

Mirror

Create a new element as the mirror image of a previously defined element.

Rotate

Create a new element by rotating a previously defined element about the currently defined coordinate frame.

Scale

Create a new element by scaling a previously defined element in the x, y, and z directions.

Translate

Create a new element by translating a previously defined element in the x, y, and z directions.

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Node

Generate a node using manual techniques in contrast with the CREATE command which automatically fills a region with elements.

Create

Create an node by specifying its spacial position in the current coordinate frame.

Delete

Delete a previously defined node.

Mirror

Create a new node as the mirror image of a previously defined node.

Rotate

Create a new node by rotating a previously defined node about the currently defined coordinate frame.

Scale

Create a new node by scaling a previously defined node in the x, y, and z directions.

Translate

Create a new node by translating a previously defined node in the x, y, and z directions.

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Normals-check

The NORMALS-CHECK command compares elements in a region and identifies those that are inconsistent with the first element in the region. If the first has an outward pointing normal, any elements whose normals point inward will be reported to the user.

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Process

The PROCESS command need not be used since using the CREATE command automatically generates or processes the elements or nodes.

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Save

The SAVE command marks the elements or nodes generated as permanent so that they are not overwritten the next time either are created.

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On-line documentation

Jason K.

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Note: This documentation is being developed currently. Information is subject to change and is on a use at your own risk basis.

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