2D Element Normals dialog box

Method
Method	Lets you specify whether you want to display or change the 2D elements’ normals.Check Normals — Displays the normals of selected 2D elements.Orient Normals — Lets you change the orientation of element normals based on a method that you specify in the Orientation Method list. For example, you can change the orientation of selected normals to match the orientation of a selected seed element.
Orientation Method
Appears when Method is set to Orient Normals.
Orientation Method	Lets you specify which the method to use to orient the elements.Using Seed Element — Changes the orientation of the selected elements to match the orientation of a seed element that you select.Automatic — Automatically aligns the normals of all the 2D elements in a specified domain that is bounded by free element edges. This method also aligns the normals of elements on non-manifold faces within the domain.
Elements to Check
Appears when Method is set to Check Normals or when Method is set to Orient Normals and Orientation Method is set to Automatic.
Elements to Check	Lets you specify which elements to include in the check or which elements to automatically align.Displayed — Checks the consistency of the element normals of all 2D elements that are currently displayed, or automatically aligns the normals of all 2D elements that are currently displayed.Selected — Checks the consistency of the element normals of selected elements, or automatically aligns the normals of selected elements.
Select Object	Lets you select the elements that the software checks or automatically aligns.
Element Labels	Lets you add elements to the selection.Use a space or comma to separate your entries.Use a colon or a dash to add a range of element labels.For example, enter 1:10 or 1-10 to add all the element labels from 1 to 10.Use colons to add an incremented range of element labels.For example, enter:1:9:2 to add element labels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.1:10:2 to add element labels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10.10:1:-2 to add element labels 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1.Press Enter or click Select to add your entries.To edit your selection, click Edit Element Selection .
Seed Element
Appears when Method is set to Orient Normals and Orientation Method is set to Orient Normals Using Seed Element.
Seed Element	Lets you select the seed element whose normal has the desired orientation.
Reverse Normal	Reverses the normal of the selected seed element.
Display Settings
Display Type	Arrows — An arrow symbol on each element indicates the normal direction.Face Colors — Different colors represent the positive and negative faces of 2D elements.Positive Face Color — Green elements indicate positive faces and the element normals are oriented outward (away from the material).Negative Face Color — Red elements indicate the negative faces and the element normals are oriented inward.Note: For the positive and negative colors to display properly with the Face Color option, ensure that you always select elements not meshes.You can modify the default display colors by clicking Positive Face Color or Negative Face Color in the 2D Element Normals dialog box.In wireframe displays, you cannot switch to the Face Colors display type.The Face Colors display type uses Back Face Culling technology to render the image faster.For more information see, Disabling rendering of backface polygons.
Scope
Scope	Connected Elements in a Seed Mesh: Changes the normals of all connected elements in the mesh to which the seed element belongs.All Visible Connected 2D Elements: Changes the normals of all connected 2D elements that are currently displayed.Selected Connected Elements: Changes the normals of the elements you select based on the orientation of the seed element.
Display Normals	Displays the normals for all 2D elements on the selected face or within the selected mesh.
Create Inconsistent Element-Edge Group	Creates a permanent group that contains the inconsistently oriented 2D elements.If two neighboring elements have different orientations, these elements are considered inconsistent elements.
Create Subdomain Element Group	Available when Method is set to Check Normals.Creates permanent groups that contains the different subdomains of elements among the elements you selected.The software places elements on faces that are not contiguous, such as faces that lie at non-manifold junctions, into different subdomains. For example, you can use the subdomain element groups, to more easily apply boundary conditions in the Simulation file.
Reverse Normals	Reverses the normals for all 2D elements on the selected face or within the selected mesh. When you reverse an element's normal, you reverse the connectivity of that element. For example, if the software created the element's nodes in the order of 1,2,3,4, the order becomes 4,3,2,1 when the connectivity is reversed.Note: The Reverse Normals option is available when the FEM file is the displayed part.
Align Normals	Changes the orientation of the selected elements’ normals to match the normal of the seed element.

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2D Element Normals dialog box, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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