SMS:Scatter Triangles Menu: Difference between revisions

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== General Commands ==
== General Commands ==
===Triangulate===
===Triangulate===
Scatter points or mesh nodes can be triangulated to form piecewise linear surfaces. For scattered data, these surfaces are also referred to as TINs (Triangular Irregular Networks). For mesh nodes, they form a finite element mesh. The points/nodes are connected into surfaces as scatter sets or meshes are  created, but at times it may be necessary to reconnect the points (i.e. after  deleting individual points/nodes or triangles/elements). New triangles are constructed in mass by triangulating a set of points when the Triangulate command from the Scatter Data menu is executed. The selected points are connected with a series of triangles. If points are not selected, then all points will be triangulated.  
Scatter points or mesh nodes can be triangulated to form piecewise linear surfaces. For scattered data, these surfaces are also referred to as TINs (Triangular Irregular Networks). For mesh nodes, they form a finite element mesh. The points/nodes are connected into surfaces as scatter sets or meshes are  created, but at times it may be necessary to reconnect the points (i.e. after  deleting individual points/nodes or triangles/elements). New triangles are constructed in mass by triangulating a set of points when the Triangulate command from the ''Scatter Data'' menu is executed. The selected points are connected with a series of triangles. If points are not selected, then all points will be triangulated.  


[[File:Triangulate1.jpg|thumb|none|left|450 px]]
[[File:Triangulate1.jpg|thumb|none|left|450 px]]
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====Triangulate====
====Triangulate====
The vertices associated with the active scatter set can be triangulated using the Triangulate command from the [[SMS:Scatter_Triangles_Menu|Triangles menu]] in the [[SMS:Scatter Module|Scatter module]]. Mesh nodes (either the selected nodes, or all nodes) can be triangulated using the Triangulate command from the [[SMS:2D_Mesh_Elements_Menu|Elements menu]] in the [[SMS:Mesh_Module|2D Mesh module]].
The vertices associated with the active scatter set can be triangulated using the '''Triangulate''' command from the ''Triangles'' menu in the [[SMS:Scatter Module|Scatter module]]. Mesh nodes (either the selected nodes, or all nodes) can be triangulated using the '''Triangulate''' command from the [[SMS:2D Mesh Elements Menu|''Elements'' menu]] in the [[SMS:Mesh Module|2D Mesh module]].


===Optimize Triangulation===
===Optimize Triangulation===
At times, the user will perform manual mesh editing using the Swap Edge tool. This makes the Delauney criterion no longer hold. Selected elements can be returned to the Delauney state by choosing the Optimize Triangulation command from the Elements menu.
At times, the user will perform manual mesh editing using the '''Swap Edge''' tool. This makes the Delauney criterion no longer hold. Selected elements can be returned to the Delauney state by choosing the '''Optimize Triangulation''' command from the ''Elements'' menu.


===Select Thin Triangles===
===Select Thin Triangles===
During the process of triangulation, a mesh of triangular elements is created around existing nodes. This usually creates triangular elements outside the desired mesh boundary. Many of these exterior triangles are very skinny, and some are virtually invisible. The Select Thin Triangles command from the [[SMS:2D Mesh Elements Menu|Elements Menu]] finds and selects skinny triangular elements which are on the mesh boundary.
During the process of triangulation, a mesh of triangular elements is created around existing nodes. This usually creates triangular elements outside the desired mesh boundary. Many of these exterior triangles are very skinny, and some are virtually invisible. The '''Select Thin Triangles''' command from the [[SMS:2D Mesh Elements Menu|''Elements'' Menu]] finds and selects skinny triangular elements which are on the mesh boundary.
   
   
Thin triangles interior to the mesh will not be selected when this command is performed, since deletion of interior triangles would result in gaps in the mesh. After the thin triangles have been selected, they can be removed by selecting the [[SMS:Macros|Delete macro]] [[File:Delete_icon.bmp]].
Thin triangles interior to the mesh will not be selected when this command is performed, since deletion of interior triangles would result in gaps in the mesh. After the thin triangles have been selected, they can be removed by selecting the [[SMS:Macros|Delete macro]] [[File:Delete_icon.bmp]].


===Select/Delete Long Triangles===
===Select/Delete Long Triangles===
This option in the [[SMS:Scatter Module|Scatter Module]], [[SMS:Scatter Triangles Menu|Triangles Menu]] finds triangles longer than the length specified in the [[SMS:Scatter Options|Scatter Options]] dialog. The [[SMS:Scatter Options|Scatter Options]] also allows the user to select the option to delete or select the long triangles. Selecting/deleting long triangles is useful for deleting triangles that span regions where interpolation is not desired, such as over regions of land (see figure below, the selected triangles are over land).
This option in the [[SMS:Scatter Module|Scatter Module]], ''Triangles'' Menu finds triangles longer than the length specified in the [[SMS:Scatter Options|''Scatter Options'']] dialog. The [[SMS:Scatter Options|''Scatter Options'']] also allows the user to select the option to delete or select the long triangles. Selecting/deleting long triangles is useful for deleting triangles that span regions where interpolation is not desired, such as over regions of land (see figure below, the selected triangles are over land).


[[Image:Check_long_triangles.jpg|thumb|none|left|350 px]]
[[Image:Check_long_triangles.jpg|thumb|none|left|350 px]]

Revision as of 15:12, 4 June 2013

The items unique to the Scatter module are listed below. The menu items operate on the active scatter set unless otherwise noted:

General Commands

Triangulate

Scatter points or mesh nodes can be triangulated to form piecewise linear surfaces. For scattered data, these surfaces are also referred to as TINs (Triangular Irregular Networks). For mesh nodes, they form a finite element mesh. The points/nodes are connected into surfaces as scatter sets or meshes are created, but at times it may be necessary to reconnect the points (i.e. after deleting individual points/nodes or triangles/elements). New triangles are constructed in mass by triangulating a set of points when the Triangulate command from the Scatter Data menu is executed. The selected points are connected with a series of triangles. If points are not selected, then all points will be triangulated.

Triangulate1.jpg

Delaunay Criterion

The resulting triangulation satisfies the Delauney criterion. The Delauney criterion ensures that no vertex lies within the interior of any of the circumcircles of the triangles in the network as shown below:

Triangulate2.jpg
DelaunayCriterion.jpg

Two Adjacent Triangles Which (a) Violate and (b) Honor the Delauney Criterion.

The result of enforcing the Delauney criterion is that long thin triangles are avoided as much as possible.

Triangulate

The vertices associated with the active scatter set can be triangulated using the Triangulate command from the Triangles menu in the Scatter module. Mesh nodes (either the selected nodes, or all nodes) can be triangulated using the Triangulate command from the Elements menu in the 2D Mesh module.

Optimize Triangulation

At times, the user will perform manual mesh editing using the Swap Edge tool. This makes the Delauney criterion no longer hold. Selected elements can be returned to the Delauney state by choosing the Optimize Triangulation command from the Elements menu.

Select Thin Triangles

During the process of triangulation, a mesh of triangular elements is created around existing nodes. This usually creates triangular elements outside the desired mesh boundary. Many of these exterior triangles are very skinny, and some are virtually invisible. The Select Thin Triangles command from the Elements Menu finds and selects skinny triangular elements which are on the mesh boundary.

Thin triangles interior to the mesh will not be selected when this command is performed, since deletion of interior triangles would result in gaps in the mesh. After the thin triangles have been selected, they can be removed by selecting the Delete macro File:Delete icon.bmp.

Select/Delete Long Triangles

This option in the Scatter Module, Triangles Menu finds triangles longer than the length specified in the Scatter Options dialog. The Scatter Options also allows the user to select the option to delete or select the long triangles. Selecting/deleting long triangles is useful for deleting triangles that span regions where interpolation is not desired, such as over regions of land (see figure below, the selected triangles are over land).

Check long triangles.jpg

Related Topics