Defining edge and loop correspondence for dependent meshes

When you create dependent meshes, the software must precisely map the nodes from the boundary of the master surface to the boundary of the target surface. To ensure that this mapping occurs correctly, you must carefully define how the outer and inner loops (boundaries) of the master face correspond to the outer and inner loops of the target face. On the 2D Dependent Mesh dialog box, you must use the Match Loops options to explicitly define a correspondence between an edge on the outer loop of the master face and an edge on the outer loop of the target face. Additionally, if the master and target faces contain any inner loops (such as holes cut through the model), you must define a correspondence between those loops as well.

Defining edge correspondence and direction

When you create a dependent mesh, you must select an edge from the master face and then select the corresponding edge from the target face. Additionally, you must also select the direction of the correspondence. While the direction itself does not matter for creating the dependent mesh, the direction must be the same for the master and the target edges as shown below.

Both the edge correspondence and edge direction are important as they control the boundary node mapping. If either the correspondence or the direction does not match, the quality or even the validity of the dependent mesh may be compromised.

Defining inner loop correspondence and direction

When you create a dependent mesh, you must also define the correspondence and direction between any inner loops (holes).

Whereas the preview arrows on outer loops show the direction for the mapping, the arrows on inner loops indicate both the direction and the location of the starting point of the loop. Specifically, the preview arrow originates at the loop's starting point. The location of the starting point is important because it controls the starting location for the boundary mapping.

In some cases, the starting points of the loops may be in different locations, as shown below. Therefore, when the software performs the boundary mapping, it will begin at different points. This can either cause problems with mesh quality or can prevent the software from meshing the surface.

If the starting points for your loops are in different locations, you can use the abstraction commands located on the Home tab, in the Polygon Geometry group, to modify the location of those starting points, before you use the 2D Dependent Mesh command. For example, for each loop, you can use the Split Edge command to spit the loops in identical locations so they will have identical starting points. You can then use the Merge Edge command to remove the unneeded end points from each loop.

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Defining edge and loop correspondence for dependent meshes, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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