Creating a 2D mesh between a source and a target

Use the Mesh from Boundary command with the Source and Target option to create a 2D mesh between selected polygon edges or element edges. The edges that you select do not need to form a closed loop. You can use this command to span gaps to create a continuous mesh across a surface or between component parts.

The Source and Target method lets you create a 2D mesh to span gaps in a wide variety of models.

2D mesh created between two existing meshes	2D mesh created between polygon geometry

To create a mesh with the Source and Target method, you:

• Specify the polygon edges or element edges that define the boundaries of the new 2D mesh.

• Specify the element type for the new mesh and define any Mesh Associated Data.

• If necessary, specify the rails that define the edges that bound the new 2D mesh between the source and target.

• Define the parameters for the new 2D mesh, such as how many layers of elements to create between the source and target.

Specifying the boundaries of the new 2D mesh

You can use options in the Mesh from Boundary dialog box to define the boundaries of the 2D mesh.

• The Source Path defines the location where the new mesh begins.

• The Target Path defines the location where the new mesh ends.

• The Rail 1 and Rail 2 paths define the sides of the new mesh.Note: When possible, the software tries to automatically determine the appropriate Rail 1 and Rail 2 locations based on the source and target locations that you select.

You can select either polygon edges or element edges to define these locations. You must use a single entity type (either polygon edges or element edges) to define each location. For example, you cannot use a mix of polygon edges and element edges to define the Source Path. However, you can use one entity type to define one boundary and another entity type to define a different boundary. For example, you can select polygon edges, to define the Source Path and element edges to define the Target Path. Similarly, you can select element edges to define Rail 1 and polygon edges to define Rail 2.

Defining the parameters for the new mesh

You can use the Type option in the Rail Mesh Parameters group to control how the software creates the elements in the new mesh.

Option	Description	Example
Uniform	Lets you specify the total number of layers (rows) of elements to create between the source and target. Select this option to create the same number of elements along each rail.
Transitioned	Lets you specify a different number of elements along each rail.
Automatic	The software automatically determines the number of elements to create along each rail.

If there is an existing 2D mesh along one or both rails, the software automatically sets the Type option to Transitioned. This setting ensures that the elements in the new 2D mesh connect to the nodes in the existing mesh.

Dynamic preview

With the Source and Target method, you can dynamically preview the appearance of the mesh as you modify options in the dialog box. If you select the Automatic check box, the software updates the previewed display of the mesh in the graphics window

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A FEM or an assembly FEM file as the work part and displayed part
Command Finder	Mesh from Boundary

Learn more

Creating a mesh inside an existing boundary

Creating a 2D mesh inside an existing boundary

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Creating a 2D mesh between a source and a target, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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