Selecting an element extrusion method

In the Element Extrude dialog box, you can use the Direction options to control how the software extrudes the elements.

Along Vector method

The Along Vector method lets you extrude elements along any selected method for a specified distance. With this option, the software maintains the elements' original sizes and shapes through the extrusion.

For example, in the following graphic, we selected a group of shell elements (A) and then extruded 5 copies of them along a vector (shown in blue) to create new solid elements (B).

With the Along Vector method, you can also specify a Twist Angle. If you specify a Twist Angle, as the software rotates the new elements about a point during the extrusion.

For example, the following graphic shows how we extruded the same group of elements (A) along the same vector with a defined Twist Angle of 15°.

Along path method

The Along Path method lets you extrude elements along a specified path. With this option, the software projects the elements along the total distance of the path itself.

For example, in the following graphic, we selected a group of shell elements (A) and then extruded 10 copies of them along a path (shown in blue) to create new solid elements (B). Notice how the curvature of the resulting elements follows the curvature of the selected path.

This graphic shows another example of the Along Path method. In this example, we created a mesh of 2D elements on one end of a model of a bar (A). We then extruded these elements along a path defined by a series of center lines (B) to create a mesh of solid elements that runs through the entire part (C).

Project to Surface method

The Project to Surface method lets you extrude elements along a specified vector to a target surface. With this option, the software projects the nodes from the selected elements to valid points on the target surface. If the software cannot find a valid projection point for a given node on the target surface, it does not project the element. Use Projection to Surfaces when you want the extruded elements to conform to the topology of the target surface.

In this example, we used Project to Surface to project all the 2D elements on a slightly curved surface (A) onto a target surface with no curvature. Notice how the software only projects the elements that have valid projection points on the target surface (B).

Element Normal method

With the Element Normal option, the software extrudes the selected elements along their nodal normals. The software computes the nodal normal of an element based on the normals of the elements connected by a given node:

The software calculates an included angle-weighted average of the normals of all the selected elements at their nodes to determine the projection vector. Each element may have a different normal, particularly on non-planar surfaces. When you are extruding elements with different normals, the elements' size and shape may change.

in the following graphic, we selected a group of shell elements (A) and then extruded 10 copies of the them along their normals to create new solid elements (B).

Radial method

Use the Radial method to extrude elements along a specified radius. This capability is helpful when you need to extrude element edges or faces in a part that is defined with a cylindrical coordinate system.

In the following example, the Radial option is used to extrude a set of element edges to model the weld material between two parts in an assembly. The yellow elements were created using the Weld Row option with the Mesh Control command and are stored in their own mesh collector.

	The 2D element edges to extrude.
	The axis of revolution that the software uses to extrude the elements.
	The new 2D elements.Note: You must use the Merge Node command to connect the nodes on the new 2D elements to the nodes on the elements in the top mesh.

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Selecting an element extrusion method, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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