Max Element Area

Max Element Area hypothesis is applied for meshing of faces composing your geometrical object. Definition of this hypothesis consists of setting the maximum area of mesh faces, which will compose the mesh of these faces.

In this example, Max. element area is very small compared to the 1D hypothesis

See Also a sample TUI Script of a Maximum Element Area hypothesis operation.

Length from Edges

Length from edges hypothesis defines the maximum linear size of mesh faces as an average length of mesh edges approximating the meshed face boundary.

See Also a sample TUI Script of a Length from Edges hypothesis operation.

Quadrangle parameters

Quadrangle parameters: Transition

Quadrangle parameters is a hypothesis for Quadrangle: Mapping meshing algorithm.

Transition tab is used to define the algorithm of transition between opposite sides of the face with a different number of segments on them. The following types of transition algorithms are available:

Standard is the default case, when both triangles and quadrangles are possible in the transition area along the finer meshed sides.
Triangle preference forces building only triangles in the transition area along the finer meshed sides.
Note
This type corresponds to Triangle Preference additional hypothesis, which is obsolete now.
Quadrangle preference forces building only quadrangles in the transition area along the finer meshed sides. This hypothesis has a restriction: the total quantity of segments on all four face sides must be even (divisible by 2).
Note
This type corresponds to Quadrangle Preference additional hypothesis, which is obsolete now.
Quadrangle preference (reversed) works in the same way and with the same restriction as Quadrangle preference, but the transition area is located along the coarser meshed sides.
Reduced type forces building only quadrangles and the transition between the sides is made gradually, layer by layer. This type has a limitation on the number of segments: one pair of opposite sides must have the same number of segments, the other pair must have an even total number of segments. In addition, the number of rows between sides with different discretization should be enough for the transition. Following the fastest transition pattern, three segments become one (see the image below), hence the least number of face rows needed to reduce from Nmax segments to Nmin segments is log₃( Nmax / Nmin ). The number of face rows is equal to the number of segments on each of equally discretized sides.

The fastest transition pattern: 3 to 1

Base vertex tab allows using Quadrangle: Mapping algorithm for meshing of trilateral faces. In this case it is necessary to select the vertex, which will be used as the forth degenerated side of quadrangle.

Quadrangle parameters: Base Vertex

A face built from 3 edges

The resulting mesh

This parameter can be also used to mesh a segment of a circular face. Please, consider that there is a limitation on the selection of the vertex for the faces built with the angle > 180 degrees (see the picture).

3/4 of a circular face

In this case, selection of a wrong vertex for the Base vertex parameter will generate a wrong mesh. The picture below shows the good (left) and the bad (right) results of meshing.

The resulting meshes

Quadrangle parameters: Enforced nodes

Enforced nodes tab allows defining points, where the algorithm should create nodes. There are two ways to define positions of the enforced nodes.

Vertices group allows to set up shapes whose vertices will define positions of the enforced nodes. Only vertices successfully projected to the meshed face and located close enough to the meshed face will be used to create the enforced nodes.
Points group allows to explicitly define coordinates of points used to create the enforced nodes. Only points successfully projected to the meshed face and located close enough to the meshed face will be used to create the enforced nodes.

Note: Enforced nodes cannot be created at Reduced transition type.

Let us see how the algorithm works:

Initially positions of nodes are computed without taking into account the enforced vertex (yellow point).

Initial mesh
Then the node closest to the enforced vertex is detected. Extreme nodes of the row and column of the detected node are used to create virtual edges (yellow lines) ending at the enforced vertex.

Creation of virtual edges
Consequently, the meshed face is divided by the virtual edges into four quadrilateral sub-domains each of which is meshed as usually: the nodes of the row and column of the detected node are moved to the virtual edges and the quadrilateral elements are constructed.

Final mesh

If there are several enforced vertices, the algorithm is applied recursively to the formed sub-domains.

See Also a sample TUI Script of a Quadrangle Parameters hypothesis.