GMS:Editing a 3D Mesh: Difference between revisions
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*'''Moved''' - The coordinates of a 3D mesh node can be edited by [[GMS:3D Mesh Tool Palette|selecting]] the node and dragging it to its new location or by typing the new coordinates in the [[GMS:The GMS Screen|Edit Window]]. | *'''Moved''' - The coordinates of a 3D mesh node can be edited by [[GMS:3D Mesh Tool Palette|selecting]] the node and dragging it to its new location or by typing the new coordinates in the [[GMS:The GMS Screen|Edit Window]]. | ||
*'''Locked''' - Once a mesh has been created and edited as desired, the locations of all of the mesh nodes can be locked using the '''''Lock All Nodes''''' command. This is generally done to avoid inadvertent movement of the nodes while assigning boundary conditions and manipulating the view. Once the nodes can be unlocked by unselecting '''''Lock All Nodes''''' command. | *'''Locked''' - Once a mesh has been created and edited as desired, the locations of all of the mesh nodes can be locked using the '''''Lock All Nodes''''' command. This is generally done to avoid inadvertent movement of the nodes while assigning boundary conditions and manipulating the view. Once the nodes can be unlocked by unselecting '''''Lock All Nodes''''' command. | ||
*'''Deleted''' - 3D mesh nodes can be deleted by selecting the node and then the '''''Delete''''' command from the | *'''Deleted''' - 3D mesh nodes can be deleted by selecting the node and then the '''''Delete''''' command from the ''Edit'' menu or the '''''Delete key'''''. | ||
*'''Renumbered''' - As a 3D mesh is constructed within GMS, the nodes and elements in the mesh are numbered arbitrarily. If any nodes or elements are deleted, gaps are created in the numbering sequence. Such gaps can be removed and an optimal numbering sequence can be achieved by selecting the '''''Renumber''''' command in the | *'''Renumbered''' - As a 3D mesh is constructed within GMS, the nodes and elements in the mesh are numbered arbitrarily. If any nodes or elements are deleted, gaps are created in the numbering sequence. Such gaps can be removed and an optimal numbering sequence can be achieved by selecting the '''''Renumber''''' command in the ''Mesh'' menu. Prior to selecting the '''''Renumber''''' command, the user should select a series of boundary faces of the 3D mesh. These faces represent the location where the numbering process is to begin. In most cases, it is best to select all of the faces on an entire side of the mesh. This can be accomplished using the [[GMS:3D Mesh Tool Palette|'''''Select Face''''']] tool with the '''''Control key''''' held down. The renumbering process renumbers the nodes and elements in a logical order that tends to minimize the node and element bandwidth (which leads to more efficient solutions with some finite element solvers). The process begins by ordering the nodes and faces of the selected group of faces. This is essentially a 2D renumbering process. The longitudinal and lateral directions of the region of selected faces are determined and the numbering proceeds by sweeping along rows oriented in the lateral direction while progressing from row to row in the longitudinal direction. Once the nodes and faces of the selected region are renumbered, the layer of elements adjacent to the faces are numbered in a similar sequence. This process is repeated by sweeping outward from the selected region, one layer of elements at a time, until the entire mesh is renumbered. The results of the renumbering process can be reviewed by turning on the display of node and/or element numbers in the [[GMS:3D Mesh Display Options|Display Options]] dialog. The results can also be viewed by right-clicking on the 3D Mesh Data Folder in the [[GMS:Project Explorer|Project Explorer]] and selecting the '''''Properties''''' command. The node and element bandwidths are listed in the dialog that comes up. If the objective of renumbering the mesh is minimizing the node and element bandwidths, the best results are generally achieved by selecting a side of the mesh corresponding to one of the two "ends" of the major or longitudinal axis of the mesh. | ||
===Refine Elements=== | ===Refine Elements=== | ||
3D mesh elements can be refined. Increasing the density of mesh elements can be accomplished by selecting a set of elements and selecting the '''''Refine Elements''''' command from the | 3D mesh elements can be refined. Increasing the density of mesh elements can be accomplished by selecting a set of elements and selecting the '''''Refine Elements''''' command from the ''Mesh'' menu. This brings up the Refine Elements dialog. | ||
=====Elements to Refine===== | =====Elements to Refine===== | ||
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Vertical column refinement was designed to be used with meshes created by extruding a 2D mesh through several layers. Meshes created in this manner are composed strictly of hexahedra and wedges and can be made by following the mesh extrusion procedure. | Vertical column refinement was designed to be used with meshes created by extruding a 2D mesh through several layers. Meshes created in this manner are composed strictly of hexahedra and wedges and can be made by following the mesh extrusion procedure. | ||
Depending upon the type and orientation of the elements in a 3D mesh, vertical column refinement may not be possible. When the Refine Elements options is selected from the Mesh menu, the entire mesh is checked to see if it can be refined using vertical column refinement. If vertical column refinement is not possible, the Vertical column refinement option is dimmed. In order for vertical column refinement to be possible, the following conditions must be met. | Depending upon the type and orientation of the elements in a 3D mesh, vertical column refinement may not be possible. When the ''Refine Elements options'' is selected from the ''Mesh'' menu, the entire mesh is checked to see if it can be refined using vertical column refinement. If vertical column refinement is not possible, the Vertical column refinement option is dimmed. In order for vertical column refinement to be possible, the following conditions must be met. | ||
#If the entire mesh is to be refined, all elements in the mesh must be either hexahedra or wedges. | #If the entire mesh is to be refined, all elements in the mesh must be either hexahedra or wedges. |