Introducing:

SpaceClaim Meshing
2019 R2
Introduction to SpaceClaim Meshing:

• SpaceClaim Meshing was designed to provide

interactive geometry and meshing tools to enable
high fidelity hex meshing
• Leverages the MultiZone mesh method (from
Workbench Mechanical/Meshing) integrated
w/SpaceClaim’s direct modeling tools to reduce
the turn-around time to construct hex meshes
• Designed for advanced users with powerful
capabilities yet automates repetitive tasks
SpaceClaim Meshing: Who is it for?

• SpaceClaim Meshing provides targeted capabilities for

power users who spend a significant amount of time
to generate a detailed mesh
• For example:
‐ Improved workflow for users who spend a significant amount of
time in SpaceClaim splitting up geometry for hex meshing
‐ Provides ease of use and less hands-on time versus traditional
block-structured meshing tools
SpaceClaim Meshing: Accessing Mesh Ribbon

• Within SpaceClaim, you need to go to SpaceClaim

Options->Customize->Ribbon Tabs->Mesh:
SpaceClaim Meshing: Overview of Mesh Ribbon

• The mesh ribbon provides meshing functionality integrated

with SpaceClaim’s toolkit (same user experience, etc)

Same Orient Tools

Block (Mesh Topology)
as in other Mesh Controls
Editing Tools
Ribbons

Tools controlling the meshing behavior and

how the mesh responds to geometry changes. Common Tools to edit the geometry and or Display Tools to view or
• Add/Edit/Delete Tools define what parts blocking (mesh topology) interrogate the mesh
should be in the meshing queue.
• Play/Pause controls whether to update the
mesh after every change or whether user
wants to control that manually.
SpaceClaim Meshing: Play/Pause → Direct modeling/meshing

• SpaceClaim Meshing keeps the mesh up to date

with direct modeling changes. As the geometry
changes, the blocking/mesh is updated.
• Depending on the operation this can be time-
consuming. Use pause to delay mesh updates
until the user wants the mesh to be updated.
SpaceClaim Meshing: Hex Meshing Approaches
Geometry Decomposition: Block Decomposition: Bounding Box Blocking or
1. Use SpaceClaim tools 1. Generate Mesh Sculpting approach:
to split up the 2. Edit Blocking to split up 1. Generate Blocking
geometry free regions and 2. Split and associate
2. Share Topology convert to mapped or blocking to geometry
3. Generate Mesh swept blocks

Each approach has some advantages, some are model specific, can also mix & match
SpaceClaim Meshing: Block Decomposition Approach
• MultiZone mesh method w/tools to fix problems
• After initial mesh is generated, user has tools to edit
the blocking (mesh topology) to construct swept
mesh w/out having to go back to the geometry

Step 1) Step 2)
SpaceClaim Meshing: Block Decomposition Approach

• Splits are non-manifold (no need for shared

topology)
• Splits are editable, boundaries can be modified
w/Move Tool

Create shared interface Slice model to make

and move as desired sweepable with flexible
using control points topology to fix quality
SpaceClaim Meshing: Sculpting approach on CAD or Facets
• Bounding box approach can also work well w/faceted models
• Use Pull/Move/Blend Tools to sculpt out a hex mesh
SpaceClaim Meshing: Use Pull/Move/Blend tools to build up mesh

• Quickly stretch & align mesh along complex profiles

• Use pull & move together to quickly construct mesh topology
SpaceClaim Meshing:

• Mechanical/Meshing tools are presented to the user in a

similar fashion as in WB Mechanical/Meshing
• In addition, if the meshing fails or the controls can’t be
respected a user can fix the blocking topology to quickly
fix problems that are some times difficult to fix in CAD
• Most meshing controls are supported. Most notable
exception is the body/sphere of influence.
• Most ICEM CFD controls are also supported. Most
notable exception is advanced biasing laws for edge
sizing.

12
SpaceClaim Meshing:

• Having interactive geometry and meshing tools provide

tremendous value in getting the desired mesh without
having to jump between applications
• SpaceClaim simplifies CAD through simple concepts
like Select/Move/Pull/Blend, leveraging these simple
concepts for meshing/blocking significantly reduces the
learning curve for complex meshing problems
• Workflow of automating the decomposition of the
geometry/blocking into sweepable regions and then
allowing the user to do further manual decomposition as
necessary shortens the overall meshing time

13
SpaceClaim Meshing:

• Block-based editing tools available to

manually fix any problems
• Alternatively, user can start from a free (tet)
block and use manual blocking to
decompose the model rather than
decomposing the geometry
• Decomposition is saved in the blocking and
persists to geometry through associations
so when the geometry is modified user
does not need to re-do decomposition
steps.
• Association-based persistence
instead of history-based persistence
• Template modeling can further
improve automation

14
SpaceClaim Meshing 2019 R2: Mechanical connection Notes:
• When parts are meshed in
SpaceClaim the CAD body gets
• Workflow similar, but some/all parts can be suppressed
• Parts that are unmeshed can be
meshed in SpaceClaim rather than Mechanical meshed in Mechanical

Unmeshed
Unmeshed
parts
parts
Meshed Meshed
parts parts
SpaceClaim Meshing 2019 R2: Mechanical connection

• Block faces are used as geometry:

➢ Contact is done on those faces
➢ Loading can be done on those faces
SpaceClaim Meshing 2019 R2: Parameter management
• Geometry parameters, and sizing parameters can be
defined and used as in other workbench applications:
 SpaceClaim Meshing 2019 R2: Template Modeling
• Use basic case to model complex case:
1. Define key CAD topology in 2. Associate block topology to 3. Associate block topology to
CAD or in SpaceClaim: CAD topology: Vertices CAD topology: Edges
SpaceClaim Meshing 2019 R2: Template Modeling
This approach can be
• Now template can be re-used on similar topology used as a starting point
(~90% of work and
based on tags defined in CAD/SpaceClaim: user finishes the rest)
or to do the full
modeling in batch
SpaceClaim Meshing 2019 R2: Template Modeling

• Template model should work for full set of

cases where topology is similar:
‐ Similar decomposition
‐ Similar vertices
‐ Similar edge groups:
➢ Supports multiple edges
➢ Edges do not have to be connected,
can overlap (only used for projection)
➢ If projection between vertices is linear, and straight-forward,
edge definitions not needed
‐ Similar face groups:
➢ Supports multiple faces
➢ Faces do not have to be connected,
can overlap (only used for projection)
➢ If block faces have clear projection,
face definitions are not needed
SpaceClaim Meshing 2019 R2:

• Released for Mechanical workflows:

➢ Meshing ribbon is available in SpaceClaim, but off by default
➢ Models with geometry/mesh are transferred to Mechanical systems in natural way
➢ Training material available
• SpaceClaim Meshing for Fluids:
➢ 2019 R2 release is not targeted for fluids applications, but meshes can be created as a
beta capability and manually transferred to Fluent using “Save as → Fluent.msh”
➢ Missing some of advanced spacing controls that may be needed for some fluids
applications (as available in ICEM CFD)