Using Mesh Control Entities to Control Element Size

Figure 8-12 shows a 2D geometry with two holes and a Bézier Polygon that is intended not to be a part of the model but is included only to control mesh size inside the domain. This example is about Mesh Control Entities and uses a simple geometry.

1	Add a Mesh Control Edges () node from the Geometry toolbar, Virtual Operations menu () (or right-click the Geometry node and select it from the Virtual Operations submenu).

2	Select the edges of the Bézier Polygon in the Edges to include selection.

Figure 8-12: A geometry with a Bézier Polygon used to define mesh size inside the domain.

3	Click Build Selected (). Note that the selected edges are removed.

4	Add a Free Triangular () node from the Mesh toolbar. Note that the edges removed in the previous step are now visible again.

5	Add a Size () node to Free Triangular 1.

6	Select Boundary as the Geometric entity level and select the edges of the Bézier Polygon.

7	Select Extra fine as the Predefined element size.

8	Click the Build All button () or press F8 to build the entire mesh. Note that the edges of the Bézier Polygon are now removed (Figure 8-13) and that the only trace of them is the fine mesh size inside the domain.

Figure 8-13: Fine mesh inside the domain.

Mesh Control Feature Model Examples

For an example of the Mesh Control Edges feature:

•	If you have the CFD Module, see Turbulent Flow Over a Backward Facing Step: Application Library path CFD_Module/Single-Phase_Benchmarks/turbulent_backstep.

•	If you have the Heat Transfer Module, see Turbulent Flow Over a Backward Facing Step: Application Library path Heat_Transfer_Module/Verification_Examples/turbulent_backstep.

For an example of the Mesh Control Faces feature:

•	If you have the Batteries & Fuel Cells Module, see Thermal Modeling of a Cylindrical Lithium-ion Battery in 3D: Application Library path Batteries_and_Fuel_Cells_Module/Thermal_Management/li_battery_thermal_3d.

•	If you have the CFD Module, see Airflow Over an Ahmed Body: Application Library path CFD_Module/Single-Phase_Benchmarks/ahmed_body.