Mesh-associated data

Mesh-associated data lets you define attributes for all elements in a mesh. These attributes may include physical properties that are not included in physical property tables.

The available attribute types depend on the solver and element type (for a list of supported attributes, see Element and mesh attributes). Examples include material orientation, degrees of freedom (for 1D elements), mass and inertia values (for 0D elements), and shell offset.

If ANSYS is the solver type, you can select or create a KEYOPT. If Abaqus is the solver type, you can select an alternative formulation of an element.

You can also define element attributes directly on individual elements (for more information, see Element-associated data). When you define mesh-associated data, you can specify that any element-associated data overrides the mesh-associated data. For example, this ability is useful when some elements in the mesh need a different material orientation than what is defined at the mesh level.

Optimization of common element attributes on import

When you import a solver input file, common element attributes for a given mesh are combined and imported as mesh-associated data. Unique element attributes are imported as element-associated data.

For example, if you import a mesh of 100 shell elements, in which 90 have the same material orientation vector defined, that common material orientation vector is imported as a mesh attribute and stored as mesh-associated data. The 10 remaining material orientation vectors are imported as element attributes and stored as element-associated data. The import process performs this optimization for each element attribute type (shell element thickness, mass, spring stiffness, material orientation vector, or beam section orientation) for each mesh.

Where do I find it?

With the FEM file displayed:

• Choose Home tab→Properties group→Mesh Associated Data

• Simulation Navigator→right-click a mesh→Edit Mesh Associated Data

• Mesh dialog box→Edit Mesh Associated Data

How do I

Add element-associated data

List and show element-associated data for a mesh

Remove element-associated data

Add mesh-associated data

Modify the properties of multiple meshes

Edit the mesh associated data for multiple meshes

Create an ANSYS KEYOPT table

Override element attributes

Learn more

Element and mesh attributes

Element-associated data

Managing element-associated data

End releases for 1D elements

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

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Mesh-associated data, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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