Detecting interference and clearance issues between faces

Use the Detect Interference/Clearance command to evaluate your model for regions where:

• Faces intersect each other.

• The clearance between faces is too small relative to the element size that you want to use for solid meshing.

The software checks for either interference or clearance between all visible faces depending the on the Clearance value you specify.

• If you specify a Clearance value of 0.0, the software looks for intersecting faces.

• If you specify a Clearance value > 0.0., the software looks for faces where the distance between two faces is less than this specified value.

The software evaluates all visible bodies in your model for interference or clearance issues. If it finds any intersecting faces or faces that lie within the specified clearance tolerance, the software:

• Places those faces in an output group in the Simulation Navigator.

• Creates a temporary display that shows the facets on those faces.

Checking for intersecting faces

If you specify a Clearance value of 0.0, the software looks for intersecting faces between all visible:

• Solid bodies.

• Sheet bodies.

• Solid and sheet bodies.

For example, your model may contain intersecting faces if:

• Assembly components are poorly positioned.

• You used the Surface Wrap Body command to create a surface wrap body and did not specify a sufficiently precise value in the Global Resolution box. If the Global Resolution value you specify is too large, the tessellation on the resulting surface wrap body may be too coarse.The following graphic shows an example of intersecting faces on a surface wrap body. (1) shows the original solid body. (2) shows the surface wrap body created by the Surface Warp Body command. (3) shows the intersecting faces that the Detect Interference/Clearance option found on the surface wrap body.

Using the Detect Interference/Clearance command to check for interference issues can help you locate regions where the interferences are significant enough that you must resolve the issue on the original CAD geometry in the Modeling application.

• Where the interference between two intersecting sheet bodies is significant enough that you cannot use the Stitch Edge command to eliminate the overlap.

• Where the interference between two intersecting solid bodies is significant enough that it cannot be resolved with the Mesh Mating Conditions command.

The following graphic shows how the software highlights the intersecting faces on two solid bodies.

Checking for clearance issues

You can also use the Detect Interference/Clearance command to ensure that there is adequate clearance in your model for the size of element you plan to use in the mesh. For example, in a model that contains very thin or tight regions, you could use the Detect Interference/Clearance option with a clearance value set to the solid element size you want to use to evaluate the appropriateness of that element size.

The following example shows a clearance issue that the Detect Interference/Clearance command detected with a specified clearance value of 15. The highlighted faces indicate the area in which the clearance issue occurs.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A FEM file active
Command Finder	Detect Interference/Clearance

Learn more

Checking your finite element model

Checking for free and non-manifold element edges

Aligning the first edges of 2D elements

Checking and orienting the directions of 1D elements

Checking and orienting the normals of 2D elements

Checking and orienting the normals of 3D element faces

Checking aerodynamic panel meshes

Checking for duplicate elements and nodes

Checking CAE model consistency

Checking the association of nodes to geometry

Checking the completeness of your model prior to a solve

Computing mechanical loads

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Detecting interference and clearance issues between faces, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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