Mesh size fields

A mesh size field is a special type of table field that stores size information from a 2D or 3D mesh as tabular data. When you create a mesh size field, the software stores the elements' location (X, Y, Z coordinates) as independent data and the average edge length value for each element as dependent data. The number of points in the spatial field is equal to the total number of elements across all selected meshes.

Mesh size fields can be helpful when you need to apply mesh data from one model to another, or to vary existing mesh size data. For example, you can use mesh size fields to:

• Apply mesh size data from one model to a different model with similar geometry.

• Refine an existing mesh with results from a previous adaptivity analysis.

• Refine an existing mesh such that the mesh satisfies a formula. For example, you can use a mesh size field to make an element's length a function of its X coordinate value.

Creating a mesh size field with the New Field From command

Use the New Field From command from the Fields node in the Simulation Navigator to create a new mesh size field from a selected mesh. The software uses the Nearest Neighbor interpolation method to create the field. You can use the Edit command to change the interpolation method, modify other characteristics of the field, and add additional data points.

Note:

A Mesh Size Field is not associated to the selected meshes. If the meshes change, the software does not update the data in the field or add additional data points.

To share mesh size fields between models and users, you can also export and import them as text files. For more information, see Exporting and importing fields.

The Simulation Navigator stores each Mesh Size Field item in the Fields folder.

Displaying a mesh size field

You can use the Display commands to create graphical displays of the mesh size field data.

Controlling the edge length calculation in 3D meshes

When you create a mesh size field from a 3D mesh, you can use the Element Size Location option to control the location at which the software computes the element's length. The software can create the field using the average element length at the following locations:

• At the centroid of the elements' free faces

• At the centroids of the elements

• At both the centroid of the elements' free faces and at the centroids of the elements

Applying a mesh size field to a mesh

After you create a mesh size field, you can use the Refine Mesh from Field command to apply the size information to an existing mesh. For more information, see Refining a mesh using field data.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A FEM or Simulation file as the work part and displayed part
Simulation Navigator	Fields→New Field From→Mesh Size Field

How do I

Create a table field

Create a table field from results

Create a table field from a formula field

Create a table field from an AFU file

Define a boundary condition using a table field

Define a material property using a table field

Define a table field with complex dependent variables

Learn more

Table fields

Creating table fields from results

Defining tabular data

Defining pressure and power data in dB

Duplicate data

Removing sliver triangles

Importing ordered or structured tabular data from a text file

Controlling the display of error messages

Look up more details

Table field interpolation and extrapolation options

Special editing options for table fields

Lookup options for fields created from results

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

Browse Simcenter 3D help by product area

Mesh size fields, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

© 2020 Siemens

window.mainLanguage="en_US"

window.delivId=""

window.projectId=""

MathJax.Hub.Config({ TeX: { extensions: ["autoload-all.js"] }, tex2jax: { displayMath: [ ] }, "SVG": { scale: 125 } });