To generate a mesh or surface for a hexahedral. The Hex operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Shape > Hex

The Hex is created using three options: Four Points, Five Points and Eight Points.

If the Options is selected as Four Points, input the following parameters:

• Reference Point: Starting point of hex (usually the corner point having the minimum X, Y and Z coordinate).
• 1st Point-It is the point in X direction.
• 2nd Point-It is the point in Y direction.
• 3rd Point-It is the point in Z direction.

No. of Grid in 1st Dir., No. of Grid in 2nd Dir. and No. of Grid in 3rd Dir.-Controls the number of cells in , and direction respectively.

Figure 4.62 - Hex volume-points

Figure 4.63 - Hex volume-mesh

To generate a mesh or surface for a cylinder. The Cylinder mesh/surface operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Shape > Cylinder

The cylinder is created using following parameters:

• Reference Point: Starting point of cylinder (center of one end of the cylinder).
• 1st Point: Axial point (Length of cylinder) (center of other end of the cylinder).
• Radius: Radius of cylinder.

• No. of Grid in 1st Dir., No. of Grid in 2nd Dir. and No. of Grid in 3rd Dir.: Controls the mesh in axial, Radial and Circumferential direction respectively.

Refer Figure 4.69, for the parameters available in the Cylinder mesh/surface.

The Size Distribution in 1st Dir. and The Size Distribution in 2nd Dir. parameters are available, if the Grid Distribution is selected as Nonuniform.

To control the Mesh distribution, the following parameters are available under Size Distribution in 1st Dir. and The Size Distribution in 2nd Dir: Symmetric Clustering, Cluster away from Reference Point and Cluster towards from Reference Point.

After these parameters are specified, click Build Cylinder Mesh to create the cylinder mesh volume.

After these parameters are specified, click Create Surfaces to create the cylinder CAD Surfaces.

To generate an annular mesh or surface. The Annulus volume/surface operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Shape > Annulus

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Type > [Desired Annulus Type]

The annuli are created using the following parameters:

• Reference Point: Starting point of annuli.
• 1st Point: Axial point (Length of annuli).
• Inner Radius: Inner radius of cylinder.
• Outer Radius: Outer radius of cylinder.
• Pie Angle (0-360): Angle of annuli (Part of annuli based on angle).
• No. of Grid in 1st Dir., No. of Grid in 2nd Dir. and No. of Grid in 3rd Dir.: Controls the mesh in axial, radial and circumferential direction respectively.  

The annuli types available are:

• Concentric Cylinders: To generate a mesh or surface between two concentric cylinders.
• Eccentric Cylinders: To generate a mesh or surface between two eccentric cylinders.
• Concentric Ovals: To generate a mesh or surface between two concentric ovals.
• Eccentric Ovals: To generate a mesh or surface between two eccentric ovals.

• Concentric Surfaces: To generate a mesh between complex shapes of inner and outer CAD surfaces, such as non-concentric and non-axisymmetric.

Figure 4.71 - Concentric cylinders-points

Figure 4.72 - Concentric ovals-points

Figure 4.73 - Eccentric ovals-points

Figure 4.74 - Concentric surfaces-points

Figure 4.75 - Concentric cylinder-mesh

Figure 4.76 - Concentric oval-mesh

Figure 4.77 - Eccentric oval-mesh

Figure 4.78 - Concentric surfaces-mesh

To generate a mesh or surface. The Cone operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Shape > Cone

The Cone is created using following parameters:

• Reference Point: Starting point of cone (centre of tip of cone).
• 1st Point: Axial point (Length of cone) (centre of base of cone).
• Radius: Radius of cone.
• Radius 1: Radius of cone at starting point.
• No. of Grid in 1st Dir., No. of Grid in 2nd Dir. and No. of Grid in 3rd Dir.: Controls the mesh in axial, circumferential and radial direction respectively.

Refer Figure 4.81, for the parameters available in the Cone mesh/surface.

The Size Distribution in 1st Dir. and The Size Distribution in 2nd Dir. parameters are available, if the Grid Distribution is selected as Nonuniform.

To control the mesh distribution, the following parameters are available under Size Distribution in 1st Dir. and The Size Distribution in 2nd Dir: Symmetric Clustering, Cluster away from Reference Point and Cluster towards from Reference Point.

After these parameters are specified, click Build Cone Mesh to create the cone mesh volume.

After these parameters are specified, click Create Surfaces to create the cone CAD Surfaces.

To generate a mesh or surface. The Prism operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Shape > Prism

The Prism is created using following parameters:

• Reference Point: Starting point of prism
• 1st Point: Axial point of prism
• Radius: Radius of prism
• Radius 1: Radius of prism at axial point
• Number of Sides: Number of faces
• No. of Grid in 1st Dir., No. of Grid in 2nd Dir. and No. of Grid in 3rd Dir.: Controls the mesh in , and direction respectively.

Refer Figure 4.84, for the parameters available in the Prism mesh/surface.

The Size Distribution in 1st Dir. and The Size Distribution in 2nd Dir. parameters are available, if the Grid Distribution is selected as Nonuniform.

To control the Mesh distribution, the following parameters are available under Size Distribution in 1st Dir. and The Size Distribution in 2nd Dir: Symmetric Clustering, Cluster away from Reference Point and Cluster towards from Reference Point.

After these parameters are specified, click Build Prism Mesh to create the prism mesh volume.

After these parameters are specified, click Create Surfaces to create the prism CAD Surfaces.

To generate a Surface for a Plate. The Plate operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Volume or Surface > Surface

Shape > Plate

The Plate is created using following parameters:

• Reference Point: Starting point of plate
• 1st Point: It is the point in X direction
• 2nd Point: It is the point in Y direction

Refer Figure 4.86, for the parameters available in the Plate mesh/surface.

Figure 4.85 - Plate surface

After these parameters are specified, click Create Surfaces to create the plate CAD Surfaces.

To generate a surface for a sphere. The Sphere operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Volume or Surface > Surface

Shape > Sphere

The sphere is created using the Reference Point and Radius.

Refer Figure 4.88, for the parameters available in the Sphere mesh/surface.

Figure 4.87 - Sphere surface

After these parameters are specified, click Create Surfaces to create the sphere CAD Surfaces.

To generate a Volume for a shell. The Shell operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Volume or Surface > Volume

Shape > Shell

The shell is created using the Reference Point Direction, Inner Radius and Outer Radius.

Refer Figure 4.90, for the parameters available in the Shell mesh.

Figure 4.89 - Shell Voulme

After these parameters are specified, click Build Shell Mesh to create the shell mesh.

Shell mesh can also be built using two enclosed surfaces. To do so, change the option of Shape from "Spherical" to "From Surface". User need to pick an "Inner CAD" and "Outer CAD" surfaces from Geometry entities. Structured shell mesh is created and deformed to fit inside the two surfaces. There are some restrictions to the two surfaces.

1. The inner surface has to be fully inside the outer surface
2. Imaging shoot out a ray from the reference point in any direction, the ray should only intersect with each of the surfaces exactly once

To generate a Volume for a Figure Eight. The Figure Eight operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Volume or Surface > Volume

Shape > Figure Eight

The Figure Eight is created using the Axis Direction, Center, Inner Radius and Outer Radius.

Refer Figure 4.92, for the parameters available in the Figure Eight mesh.

Figure 4.91 - Figure Eight Voulme

After these parameters are specified, click Build Figure Eight Mesh to create the Figure Eight shape mesh.

There are restrictions to the parameters user can use. The two outer circles intersect each other within the region between the two centers. The inner circles must be small enough, so that it is not touching the outer circles intersection line.

To generate a Volume using Layer. The Layer operation is accessed as follows:

Mesh Panel > Template Mesh/Surface

Properties Panel > Geometry Tab > Volume or Surface > Volume

Shape > Layer

The Layer is created using the Thickness, Cell Size on Wall and Cluster Options.

Refer Figure 4.95 for the parameters available in the Layer mesh.

• Thickness: This option is used to define the total thickness of the prism layer. Refer Figure 4.74
• Cell Size on Wall: This option is used to define the height of the cell closest to the wall.
• Cluster Options: This option can be used to define the number of layers using the exponential option or growth ratio using the expansion option
• Exponential: This option automatically puts the prism layer based on the number of layers specified and cell size on wall.
• Growth Ratio: This option puts the prism layer based on the Cell size on wall and the ratio defined. Ratio of 1.2 means the second cell after the cell size on wall will have 20% more thickness than the cell size on wall and so on.
• Build on Thin Cells: If cell skewness limit on which prism has to be built is lower than the given value, then it builds prism layer, otherwise it will not build it.
• Angle Limit: If the angle between the normal of the base surface and prism layer is less than the value defined, then it builds the prism layer, otherwise it will not build. The default and recommended value is 60 degrees. However, user can change it based on the requirement.
• Smooth Transition: If the smooth transition is set to No, then the prism layer will not merge with the base cells at the point of transition. It merges with the base cells and form a smooth transition, if it is set to Yes as shown in Figure 4.74
• Base Face Area Limit: The prism layer will only be built on the cells, whose area is more than the defined value.
• Base Face skewness Limit: The prism layer will be built only on those base cells, who have skewness lesser than the value defined.
• Additional Volume Check: This advance option checks all the layers for prism to ensure there is no negative volume in any cell.