MESHING WORKSHOP

Thursday, November 13th, 2014

Metin Ozen, Ph.D., ASME Fellow

OZEN ENGINEERING, INC.

www.ozeninc.com
 WHAT DO WE DO?

• Ozen Engineering, Inc. helps solve challenging and multidisciplinary engineering problems with
industry leading computational simulation technologies

• We provide advanced
• Multi-Physics FEA
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations
 INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS MESHING
• In this lecture we will learn:
– Process for pre-processing using ANSYS tools
– What is the ANSYS Meshing?
– Meshing Fundamentals
– How to launch ANSYS Meshing?
– ANSYS Meshing interface
– Geometry concepts
– Meshing methods
 PREPROCESSING WORKFLOW
Import/
Geometry
Geometry Meshing Solver
Modifications
Creation

Sketches and
3D Operations Meshing Methods
Planes
Booleans, Hybrid Mesh: Tet,
3D Operations Decompose, etc. Prisms, Pyramids

Extrude, Revolve, Hexa Dominant,

Sweep, etc Geometry Sweep meshing
Cleanup and
Assembly
Geometry Import Repair Meshing
Options Automatic
Cleanup Global Mesh
Bi-Directional
CAD/ Neutral
Settings
Simplification,
Mid-surface, Local Mesh
Fluid Extraction Settings

Sizing, Controls,
etc.
 WHAT IS ANSYS MESHING
• ANSYS Meshing is a component of ANSYS Workbench
– Meshing platform
– Combines and builds on strengths of preprocessing offerings from ANSYS:
• ICEM CFD, TGRID (Fluent Meshing), CFX-Mesh, Gambit

• Able to adapt and create Meshes for different Physics and Solvers
– CFD: Fluent, CFX and POLYFLOW
– Mechanical: Explicit dynamics, Implicit
– Electromagnetic
• Integrates directly with other WB systems
 MESHING FUNDAMENTALS

• Purpose of the Mesh

– Equations are solved at cell/nodal locations
• Domain is required to be divided into discrete cells
(meshed)

• Mesh Requirements
– Efficiency & Accuracy
• Refine (smaller cells) for high solution gradients and
fine geometric detail.
• Coarse mesh (larger cells) elsewhere.
– Quality
• Solution accuracy & stability deteriorates as mesh
cells deviate from ideal shape
MESHING PROCESS IN ANSYS MESHING

• Physics, Sizing, Inflation, Pinch,

…

• Sizing, Refine, Pinch, Inflation,

…

• Preview surface mesh,

Inflation

• Mesh metrics, Charts

 LAUNCHING ANSYS MESHING
– ANSYS Meshing is launched within Workbench
• 2 ways :

From Analysis Systems From Component Systems

Fluid Flow (Fluent), Fluid Flow (CFX), Mesh

Double click
Mesh in the
System

or right click
and select
Edit
 GRAPHICS USER INTERFACE
Toolbars

Outline Graphics window

Worksheet

Details view

Manage views Mesh Metrics

Section Planes

Message window
Entity Details Bar Units Bar
 OUTLINE
• Three default sections
– Geometry
• Bodies
– Coordinate Systems
• Default global & user defined systems
– Mesh
• Meshing operations (controls & methods)
– displayed in the order in which they are inserted
In the tree
• Right clicking on any object
• launches a context sensitive menu
• Example: contains commands to generate, preview, clear mesh etc.
 DETAILS VIEW
• Accessing Object Details
– Select an object (in the Outline)
• Related information to that object are displayed in the Details View below
• Ex: Select a body (“Fluid”) in the Outline
– Details of “Fluid” : contains graphical and geometric details
• To access meshing details
– Click the Mesh object or any of the inserted objects

– The Details View provides options to

• review,
• edit or values for every object in the Tree
• input
GEOMETRY CONFIGURATION – MULTIPLE PARTS

• Geometry composed of Multiple parts

• No connection between parts (no face sharing)
Grid interface
‘Contact Region’ - Fluent
Each part Results in Non-conformal interface.
is automatically
meshed Meshes do not match.
created between
independently No nodes connection. GGI - CFX
2 faces

Independent faces
GEOMETRY CONFIGURATION – MULTI-BODY PARTS
– Geometry composed of multiple bodies in a part
• Depend on ‘Shared Topology method’ (in DM)
– None
» Results in a none connection between the bodies (similar to multiple parts)

– Automatic

Faces in contact imprinted & fused Results in Conformal Common face acts
Form a single face shared between the 2 bodies mesh as ‘Interior’
GEOMETRY CONFIGURATION – MULTIPLE – BODY PARTS
– Geometry composed of multiple bodies in a part
– Imprints

Grid interface
Faces are imprinted Contact Region For identical mesh on these non - Fluent
on each other  is automatically faces, use ‘Match Control’ conformal
‘like’ faces created Results in unconnected mesh interface GGI - CFX
 MESHING – 3D GEOMETRY
• 3D cell Types
• First Meshing Approach
Part/Body Methods
• Tetrahedrons.
Part/Body based − Tetras only
• Meshing occurs at part or • Sweep.
body level.
− Prisms &
• Meshing Methods are
hexahedrons
scoped to individual bodies.
• MultiZone.
• Method assignment can be
− Mainly hexahedron
automatic or manual.
• Bodies contained in one • Hex Dominant
part are conformally − Not for CFD
meshed. • Automatic.
− Combines any types
 MESHING – 3D GEOMETRY
• Second Meshing Approach

Cut Cell Meshing

Assembly Meshing
• Meshes an entire model in
one process. Assembly Meshing
− Assembly of parts
Methods
• Performs boolean operations. • Generate mainly
− Volume filling, intersection & − Hexahedrons
combination − Tetrahedrons
− Does not require prior fluid
body definition or shared
topology.

• Conformal mesh created

across parts. Part/Body Meshing &
Assembly Meshing
not interoperable
 MESHING METHODS
• In this lecture we will learn:
– Meshing Methods for Part/Body Meshing
• Assembly Meshing covered separately
– Methods & Algorithms for;
• Tetrahedral Meshing
• Hex Meshing
• 2D Meshing
– Meshing Multiple Bodies
• Selective Meshing
• Recording Meshing Order
 PREPROCESSING WORKFLOW
Import/
Geometry
Geometry Meshing Solver
Modifications
Creation

Sketches and
3D Operations Meshing Methods
Planes
Booleans, Hybrid Mesh: Tet,
3D Operations Decompose, etc. Prisms, Pyramids

Extrude, Revolve, Hexa Dominant,

Sweep, etc Geometry Sweep meshing
Cleanup and
Assembly
Geometry Import Repair Meshing
Options Automatic
Cleanup Global Mesh
Bi-Directional
CAD/ Neutral
Settings
Simplification,
Mid-surface, Local Mesh
Fluid Extraction Settings

Sizing, Controls,
etc.
 WHICH METHOD TO CHOOSE?
High aspect ratio cells Cells refined around
• Why Multiple Methods? (Inflation) near wall to capture small geometric details
• Choice depends on : boundary layer gradients and complex flow
– Physics
– Geometry
– Resources

• Mesh could require just

one or a combination of
methods.

Hex (3d) or Quad (2d)

cells used to mesh
simple regions
Tet (3d) or Tri (2d) cells used
here to mesh complex region
 PATCH CONFORMING VERSUS INDEPENDENT

Patch Conforming Patch Independent

• Clean CAD, Accurate surface mesh • Dirty Geometry, defeatured surface mesh
 TETRAHEDRONS METHODS

Patch Conforming Patch Independent

• Bottom up approach: Meshing process
• Edges  Faces  volume
• All faces and their boundaries are respected
(conformed to) and meshed
• Good for high quality (clean) CAD geometries
• CAD cleanup required for dirty geometry
• Sizing is defined by global and/or local controls
• Compatible with inflation
• Top down approach: Meshing process
• Volume meshed first  projected on to faces
& edges
• Faces, edges & vertices not necessarily conformed
• Controlled by tolerance and scoping of Named
Selection, load or other object
• Good for gross de-featuring of poor quality (dirty)
CAD geometries
• Method Details contain sizing controls
• Compatible with inflation

To access it To access it
• Insert Method • Insert Method
• Set to Tetrahedrons • Set to Tetrahedrons
• Set to Patch Conforming • Set to Patch Independent
 TETRAHEDRONS METHOD : CONTROL

Patch Conforming - Sizing

• Mesh sizing for the Patch Conforming algorithm is
defined by Global & Local Controls
• Automatic refinement based on curvature and/or
proximity accessible in Global Controls
• Details of Global & Local Controls covered in
separate lectures

• Choice of surface
mesher algorithm
in global controls
 TETRAHEDRONS METHOD : CONTROL

Patch Independent - Sizing

• Sizing for the Patch Independent algorithm
defined in Patch Independent Details

• Automatic curvature & proximity refinement Name Selec. assigned &

option defeaturing Tol = 0.02
Features > 0.02m respected

Defeaturing Control
• Set Mesh Based Defeaturing On
• Set Defeaturing Tolerance
• Assign Named Selections to selectively preserve
geometry

Defeaturing Tolerance off

TETRAHEDRONS METHOD : ALGORITHM COMPARISON

Patch conforming : details caputred Patch independent : details ignored

Delaunay mesh - smooth growth rate Octree mesh . approximate growth rate

Geometry with small details

 HEXA MESH - INTRODUCTION
Tetra mesh - 48 000 Cells
• Hex Meshing
– Reduced element count
• Reduced run time

– Elements aligned in direction of

flow
• Reduced numerical error Hexa mesh - 19 000 Cells

• Initial Requirements
– Clean geometry
– May require geometric
decomposition
 SWEEP MESHING

Mesh Method & Behavior

• Generates hex/wedge elements
• Meshes source surfaces  Sweeps through to the
target
• Body must have topologically identical source
and target faces Sweep Direction Source face Target face
• Side faces must be mappable
• A sweep path must be identified
• Only one source and one target face is allowed Sweep Path
• Alternative ‘thin’ sweep algorithm can have
multiple source & target faces

To access it Side Face(s)

• Insert Method Target Face Source Face
• Set to Sweep
 SWEEP MESHING

Source & Target selection

Automatic
• Source & Target faces identified automatically
Define the nbr of
• Requires that the mesher find the sweeping
intervals on the
direction side face(s)
• Manual source & Manual source and target
• User selection
• Source face colored in red
• Target face colored in blue
• Rotational Sweeping Sweep Path
 Sweep around an axis
 Requires selection of both - Source & target

Note
• Specifying both Source & Target accelerate
meshing Generation of wedges
& hex elements
 SWEEP MESHING

Source & Target selection

Automatic Thin & Manual Thin
• Alternate sweep algorithm
Source
• Advantages
Faces Target
 Sweep multiple Source & Target faces
 Can perform some automatic defeaturing

• Limitations
X For multibody parts only one division allowed
across the sweep
X Inflation not allowed
X Sweep bias not allowed
Source Faces imprinted
on Target
 SWEEP MESHING

Sweep and Inflation

Compatibility with Src/Trg Selection
X

 Sweep Mesh - No Inflation
X
X

Use of Inflation
• Defined on source face ( NOT on target one)
• From boundary edges (2D)
• Swept through volume

Sweep Mesh with Inflation

 SWEEP MESHING
Geometry

Identifying sweepable bodies

Right mouse button
• Automatic detection of sweepable bodies
• Rotational ones are not identified

• Identification method
• Right click on mesh object
• Outline tree Sweepable bodies in
• Select : Sweepable Bodies green color

Unsweepable

Making bodies sweepable Decompose

Sweep Mesh
• Decompose bodies into multi-simple topological
shapes
• Perform decomposition in CAD/DM
 MULTIZONE MESHING

Mesh Method & Behavior

• Based on blocking approach (ANSYS ICEM CFD
Hexa)
• Automatically decomposes geometry into blocks
• Generates structured hexa mesh where block
topology permits
• Remaining region filled with unstructured
Hexa Core or Tetra or Hexa dominant mesh
• Src/Trg Selection
• Automatic or Manual source selection
• Multiple source faces
• Select Target faces as “Source”
• Compatible with 3D Inflation 

To access it
• Insert Method  Set to Multizone
 MULTIZONE MESHING

Mapped Mesh Type

Determines which elements to use
• Hexa Geometry
• Default
• Only Hexahedral elements are generated
• Hexa/prism
• For quality and transition, triangles will be
inserted on the surface mesh (sources)
• Prism
• Only prisms will be generated
• Useful when the adjacent volume is filled in
with tet mesh
Hexa

Hexa - Prism
 MULTIZONE MESHING

Surface Mesh Method

Specify a method to create the surface mesh
• Uniform Geometry
• Uses a recursive loop-splitting method which
creates a highly uniform mesh
• Pave
• Creates a good quality mesh on faces with high
curvature, and also when neighboring edges
have a high aspect ratio
• Program controlled
• Combination of Uniform and Pave methods
• depends on the mesh sizes set and face Pave
properties
Uniform
 AUTOMATIC METHOD

Mesh Method & Behavior

• Combination of Tetrahedron Patch Conforming
and Sweep Method
• Automatically identifies sweepable bodies and
creates sweep mesh
• All non-sweepable bodies meshed using
tetrahedron Patch Conformal method

• Compatible with inflation

To access it
• Default method
• Insert method  Set to Automatic
 2D MESHING Automatic Triangles

Mesh Method & Behavior

• Quadrilateral Dominant & Triangles
• Patch conforming methods
• MultiZone Quad/tri
• Patch Independent Methods
• Associated with face mesh type
• All Tri MultiZone MultiZone
• Quad/tri Quad/Tri Quad
• All Quad

• Advanced size function & local size controls are

supported
 2D MESHING
2D Mapped
mesh

Control
• Mapped Surface Meshes
• Local mesh controls
• Fully Mapped surface meshes
• Specified edge sizing/intervals

Inflation
• Boundary edges are inflated
• Global & local inflation controls are supported
 2D MESH SOLVER GUIDELINES

ANSYS Fluent ANSYS CFX

• For a 2D analysis in Fluent generate the mesh in • For 2D analysis in CFX, create a volume mesh
the XY plane (using Sweep)
• Z=0 • 1 element thick in the symmetry direction, i.e.,

• For axisymmetric applications y  0 and make sure • Thin Block for Planar 2D
that the domain is axisymmetric about x axis
• Thin Wedge (< 5°) for 2D Axis-symmetric
• In ANSYS Meshing, by default, a thickness is
defined for a surface body and is visible when the
view is not normal to the XY Plane.
• This is purely graphical – no thickness will be
present when the mesh is exported into the
Fluent 2D solver
 SELECTIVE MESHING

• What is ?
– Selectively picking bodies and meshing them incrementally

• Why ?
– Bodies can be meshed individually
– Mesh seeding from meshed bodies influences neighboring bodies (user has control)
– Automated meshing can be used at any time to mesh all remaining bodies
– When controls are added, only affected body meshes require remeshing
– Selective body updating
– Extensive mesh method interoperability
 SELECTIVE MESHING
Meshing first the pipe then the block

Local Meshing
Clear meshes on individual bodies
Generate meshes on individual bodies
• Subsequent bodies will use the attached face
mesh
• The meshing results (cell types) will depend on
the meshing order
• Adjust/add controls – able to remesh only Meshing first the block then the pipe
affected body

• Select body(s)
• Right click
 SELECTIVE MESHING
Example : Meshing cylinder first and then block
Recording Mesh Operations
• Use it to record the order of meshing to automate
future use
• Right click Mesh in the
Outline to access it

• A Worksheet is generated
• Record mesh operations as ordered steps
• Named Selections are automatically created for
each meshed body for reference in the Worksheet
 SELECTIVE MESHING

Selective Body Updating

• Remeshing only bodies that have changed

• Access option through Tools > Options

• No: All geometry updated, all bodies remeshed.
• Associatively: Accommodates for body
topology change (add/delete) (slower)
• Non-Associatively: Assumes no topology
change (faster)

Example :
Geometric
change to block
 GLOBAL MESH CONTROLS
• In this section, we will learn about:
– Introduction to Global Mesh Controls
– Defaults
– General Sizing Controls & Advanced Size Functions
– Global Inflation
– Assembly Meshing Controls
– Statistics
 PREPROCESSING WORKFLOW
Import/
Geometry
Geometry Meshing Solver
Modifications
Creation

Sketches and
3D Operations Meshing Methods
Planes
Booleans, Hybrid Mesh: Tet,
3D Operations Decompose, etc. Prisms, Pyramids

Extrude, Revolve, Hexa Dominant,

Sweep, etc Geometry Sweep meshing
Cleanup and
Assembly
Geometry Import Repair Meshing
Options Automatic
Cleanup Global Mesh
Bi-Directional
CAD/ Neutral
Settings
Simplification,
Mid-surface, Local Mesh
Fluid Extraction Settings

Sizing, Controls,
etc.
MESHING PROCESS IN ANSYS MESHING
 GLOBAL MESH CONTROLS (1)
– Global mesh controls are used to make
global adjustment in the meshing
strategy, which includes sizing
functions, inflation, smoothing,
defeaturing, parameter inputs,
assembly meshing inputs, etc.
– Minimal inputs
• Automatically calculates global
element sizes based on the
smallest geometric entity
• Smart defaults are chosen based
on physics preference
– Makes global adjustments for required
level of mesh refinement
– Advanced Size Functions for resolving Smart defaults !
regions with curvatures and proximity
of surfaces
GLOBAL MESH CONTROLS (2)
• Physics Based Settings
– Physics and Solver Preferences
• Global Mesh Sizing Controls
• Relevance and Relevance Center
• Advanced Size Functions
• Smoothing and Transition
• Span Angle Center
• Curvature Normal Angle
• Proximity Accuracy and Cells Across Gap
• Inflation
– Inflation Option, Inflation Algorithm
– Collision Avoidance
– Maximum Angle, Fillet Ratio, Smoothing
• Assembly Meshing
– Activation of CutCell/Tetrahedrons Meshing
• Patch Confirming Options
– Activation of Advancing Front Method
• Advanced
– Numer of CPUs for Parallel Part Meshing
– Shape Checking
– Element midside nodes
• Defeaturing
– Pinch based
– Automatic Mesh Based
• Statistics
– Mesh statistics, Quality criteria
GLOBAL MESH CONTROLS (3)
 DEFAULTS
• Four options under “Physics Preference”
– CFD, Mechanical, Explicit and Electromagnetic
• Three options under “Solver Preference” when CFD is selected:
– Fluent, CFX and POLYFLOW
• Mesh setting defaults are automatically adjusted to suit the
“Physics Preference” and “Solver Preference”
• Assembly Meshing is active only when Physics Preference is
CFD and Solver Preference is Fluent
SIZING : ADVANCED SIZING FUNCTIONS
• Controls the growth and distribution of mesh in important regions of
high curvature or close proximity of surfaces
• Five Options:
– Off. Unavailable for Assembly Meshing
– Proximity and Curvature
– Curvature
– Proximity
– Fixed
• When CutCell Meshing is active with ‘Proximity’ or ‘Proximity and
Curvature’ Advanced Size Function (ASF), Proximity Size Function
Sources control is displayed to specify the regions of proximity between
“Edges”, “Faces” or “Faces and Edges” in the computation of Proximity
ASF
 SIZING : ADVANCED SIZING FUNCTION EXAMPLES
ASF: Off
• The edges are meshed with global
Element Size
• Then the edges are refined for
curvature and 2D proximity
• At the end, corresponding face and
volume mesh is generated
• Transition of cell size is defined by
Transition
ASF: Curvature
• Determines the Edge and Face
sizes based on Curvature Normal
Angle
• Finer Curvature Normal Angle
creates finer surface mesh
• Transition of cell size is defined by
Growth Rate
ASF: Proximity
• Controls the mesh resolution on
proximity regions in the model
• Fits in specified number of elements in
the narrow gaps
• Higher Number of Cells Across Gap
creates more refined surface mesh
• Transition of cell size is defined by
Growth Rate
SIZING : ELEMENT SIZE
Element Size
• Element size used for the entire model
– This size will be used for meshing all edges, faces and bodies
• Default value based on Relevance and Initial Size Seed
– User can input required value as per geometry dimensions

Element size option

available when Advanced
Size Function is not used
 SIZING : MIN AND MAX SIZE
• Min Size
– Minimum element size that the size function will generate
– Some element sizes may be smaller than this size depending on the edge length
• Max Face Size
– Maximum face size that the size function will generate
– Not supported by CutCell meshing
• Max Size
– Maximum element size that can be grown in the interior of volume mesh

Mouse Pointer serves to estimate

mesh sizes

Min Size

Max Face Size

Min Size ≤ Max Face Size ≤ Max Size Max Size
SIZING : GROWTH RATE
• Define the ratio between sizes of adjacent cells
• On surfaces and inside the volumes
Growth Rate = Growth Rate = 1.2
1.1 (Default)

Growth Rate =
Mesh size: 1.3

GR = 1.1 : 1,263,297 cells

GR = 1.2 : 587,026 cells
GR = 1.3 : 392,061 cells
 SIZING : TRANSITION
• Controls the rate at which elements grow
• Two level control for transition
• Slow (Default for CFD, Explicit), produces smooth transitions
• Fast (Default for Mechanical and Electromagnetic), produces more abrupt
transitions
• Not available for Cutcell meshing
• Hidden for sheet models, ignored for assemblies containing sheets,
when ASF is On

Fast Slow
SIZING : SPAN ANGLE CENTER
• Controls curvature based refinement for Edges
• Three options and corresponding span angle ranges are
– Coarse: 91° to 60°
– Medium: 75° to 24°
– Fine: 36° to 12°
• Not available for Cutcell meshing

Coarse Medium Fine

 INFLATION
• Inflation
– Used to generate thin cells adjacent to boundaries
– Required for capture of wall adjacent boundary layers
– Resolve viscous boundary layer in CFD
– Resolve thin air gaps in Electromagnetic analysis
– Resolve high stress concentration regions in Structures
– Cells are created by ‘inflating’ from the surface mesh into the volume (3d) or
inflating from the boundary edge onto the face (2d)
– Options to control growth
INFLATION : AUTOMATIC INFLATION
• Three options
• None
– Select this for manual inflation settings using local mesh
controls
• Program Controlled
All the faces are selected for inflation except:
– Faces scoped to a Named Selection
– Faces with manual inflation defined
– Faces in contact regions
– Faces in symmetry
– Faces that belong to a part or body that has a mesh
method defined that does not support 3D inflation, such as
sweep or hex-dominant
– Faces in sheet bodies
• All Faces in chosen Named Selection: can grow inflation layers
from faces grouped in one named selection
INFLATION : INFLATION OPTIONS
• Five options: All available for Patch Conformal (PC ) tets and Assembly
meshing
Smooth Transition
Maintains smooth volumetric growth between each
adjacent layer. Total thickness depends on the
Smooth variation of base surface mesh sizes (Default)
Transition First Layer Thickness
Maintains constant first cell height
throughout
Total Thickness
Maintains constant total height of inflation layer
throughout

First Aspect Ratio

Controls the heights of the inflation layers by
defining the aspect ratio of the inflations that are
extruded from the inflation base

Last Aspect Ratio

Creates inflation layers using the values of the first
layer height, maximum layers, and aspect ratio
controls
INFLATION : INFLATION ALGORITHMS
• Two Algorithms
– Post
– Pre
• Patch independent
meshes (including Post
Assembly) use Post
• First Tet grows then Inflation process starts
• Tet mesh is undisturbed, if the inflation options are altered
• Default option for Patch Independent Tetrahedrons

Preview Inflation
is available only
with Pre Algorithm
• Surface mesh is inflated first, then rest of
the volume mesh grows
Pre
• Default method for Patch Conforming
Tetrahedrons
INFLATION: AUTOMATIC INFLATION EXAMPLE

Patch Conforming Tets

MultiZone Cutcell
INFLATION : ADVANCED OPTIONS
Collision Avoidance: Control to detect proximity regions and adjust the cells in the
inflation layer.
• None
• Does not check for proximity regions
• Layer Compression (Default for Fluent)
• Compresses inflation layers in the proximity regions
• Maintains the given number of layers in the proximity regions
• May stair-step if needed (will give a warning)

• Stair Stepping (Default for CFX)

• Inflation layers are stair stepped in the proximity regions
• Removing layers locally in steps to avoid collisions as well as bad quality at sharp
corners
When Cutcell meshing is used, both Layer Compression and Stair Steeping algorithms are used
depending on the geometry complexity.
Generates combination of
Pyramids and Tets to fill
the stair step
INFLATION : COLLISION AVOIDANCE EXAMPLE
Layer Compression Stair Stepping
Example
 DEFEATURING
• Removes small geometry features meeting the tolerances using
Pinch or/and Automatic Mesh Based Defeaturing controls in order
to improve the mesh quality. Not all meshing methods can take
advantage of these controls.
• Pinch Tolerance control removes small features at the mesh level
depending on the Pinch Tolerance value provided. ANSYS Meshing
offers global and manual pinch controls.
• Automatic Mesh Based Defeaturing (AMBD) when it is ‘On’,
features smaller than or equal to the value of Defeaturing
Tolerance are removed automatically.

AMBD Off AMBD With Pinch

On
 STATISTICS
• Option to view the mesh quality metric
• Exhaustive list of quality metrics
• Orthogonal Quality mesh quality metrics
• Option to view the Mesh Metric chart
– Intuitive controls available under Mesh Metric Chart
– Various options to explore under the ‘Controls’
• See lecture 7 for details
 LOCAL MESH CONTROLS

• In this section, we will learn about:

– Local mesh controls (Mesh sizing, Refinement, Match
control, Inflation, etc)
– How to apply local controls?
– Effect of local controls on mesh
 PREPROCESSING WORKFLOW
Import/
Geometry
Geometry Meshing Solver
Modifications
Creation

Sketches and
3D Operations Meshing Methods
Planes
Booleans, Hybrid Mesh: Tet,
3D Operations Decompose, etc. Prisms, Pyramids

Extrude, Revolve, Hexa Dominant,

Sweep, etc Geometry Sweep meshing
Cleanup and
Assembly
Geometry Import Repair Meshing
Options Automatic
Cleanup Global Mesh
Bi-Directional
CAD/ Neutral
Settings
Simplification,
Mid-surface, Local Mesh
Fluid Extraction Settings

Sizing, Controls,
etc.
MESHING PROCESS IN ANSYS MESHING
 LOCAL MESH CONTROLS
Non-CutCell meshing local controls
Control the mesh locally
• Depends on the “Mesh Method” used
Local Mesh Controls are:
• Sizing- For Vertex, Edge, Face and Body
• Contact Sizing - For Edge and face
• Refinement- For Vertex, Edge and Face
• Mapped Face Meshing - For Face
• Match Control - For Edge and Face CutCell meshing local controls
• Pinch - For Vertex and Edge
• Inflation - For Edge and Face

Only Sizing and Inflation local controls are available

for CutCell meshing
The latest control added on a particular entity overrides
any prior controls
 SIZING
Recommended for locally defining the mesh sizes
You can only scope sizing to one geometry entity type at a time
• For example: you can apply sizing to a number of edges or a number of faces, but not a mix of
edges and faces.

Four Types of Sizing option

• Element Size specifies average element edge length on bodies, faces or edges
• Number of Divisions specifies number of elements on edge(s)
• Body of Influence specifies average element size within a body
• Sphere of Influence specifies average element size within the sphere
Sizing options vary depending on Entity/Option Element Size Number of Divisions Body of Influence Sphere of Influence
Vertices x
the entity type chosen Edges x x x Requires a
Faces x x Coordinate
system for
Bodies x x x
the sphere
Advanced Size
Only Element Size type is available for CutCell Function in
meshing Global settings
should be
disabled
 SIZING : EDGES
Sizing Type:
Element Size

Sizing Type:
Number of Divisions Edge meshed with Edge meshed with 10
constant element size of elements
60mm

The Curvature Normal Angle and/or the Growth Rate maybe

not displayed depending on the ASF used
 SIZING : EDGES
Bias Type and Bias Factor
Specify the grading scheme and factor
• Bias Type: grading of elements towards one end, both ends, or the center
• Bias Option:
– Bias Factor: is the ratio of the largest element to the smallest element
– Smooth Transition: defined by Growth Rate which is ratio of size of an element with
size of previous element. (Growth Rate = Bias Factor^(1(n-1))
 SIZING : EDGES
Behavior
Soft: Sizing will be influenced by global sizing functions such as those based on proximity and/or
curvature as well as local mesh controls
Hard: Size control is strictly adhered to
• Transition between hard edges (or any edge with bias) and adjacent edge and face
meshes may be abrupt
• Hard edges or edges with bias will override Max Face Size and Max Size properties

Influenced by global No influence from other

Proximity advanced global settings
size function.

Soft Hard
Number of Division = 4 Number of Division = 4
SIZING : FACES & BODY (VOLUME)
• Element Size • Element Size
•Defines the maximum element size on the •Defines the maximum cell size on the Body
face
 SIZING : SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
• On Vertex
• Available with or without
Advanced Size Functions
• Sets the average element size
around the selected vertex
• Inputs:
– Sphere radius and Element size
– Center of the sphere is defined by a model
vertex
• On Bodies
• Available with or without
Advanced Size Functions
• Constant element size is applied
within the confines of a sphere
• Use coordinate system to define
the center of the Sphere
 SIZING : BODIES OF INFLUENCE
Bodies of influence (BOI)
– Lines, surfaces and solid bodies can be used to refine the mesh
– Accessible when ASF is On
– Not available for CutCell meshing

Line BOIs

The ‘Body of Influence’ itself

Surface BOI Solid BOI will not be meshed

Without BOIs
 MAPPED FACE MESHING
• Creates structured meshes on selected mappable surfaces
– Mapped Face Meshing with advanced control is supported for
• Sweep, Patch Conforming, Hexa Dominant
• Quad Dominant and Triangles
– Mapped Face Meshing with basic control is supported for
• MultiZone
• Uniform Quad/Tri and Uniform Quad If Mapped Face Meshing fails, ( ) icon
appears adjacent to corresponding object in
– RMB on Mesh and Show/Mappable Faces to display all the Tree outline. The mesh will still be created
but will ignore this control.
mappable faces
 MAPPED FACE MESHING: INTERNAL NO. OF DIVISIONS
• If face is defined by two loops, then the “Internal Number of Divisions”
field is activated
– User can specify the number of divisions across the annular region
– Also useful for defining number of divisions along sweeping direction for Multizone
when there are no side edges

Mapped face is swept to create

pure hex mesh
 MATCH CONTROL
• Define periodicity on faces (3D) or edges (2D)
• The two faces or edges should be topologically and geometrically the same
• A match control can only be assigned to one unique face/edge pair
• Match controls are not supported with Post Inflation Algorithm
• Match Control with Patch Independent tetrahedrons not supported yet
– Two types of match controls available:
• Cyclic and
• Arbitrary
– Not available for CutCell meshing

Matching face
mesh

If ‘Match Control’ fails, ( ) icon appears adjacent to corresponding

object in the outline Tree, however the mesh is created ignoring it
 MATCH CONTROL: CYCLIC
• Define Rotational periodic
Full Model Periodic Model

Model is symmetrical at 90°

Selected Faces for
Match control

Matching face mesh

 PINCH
• To improve quality Pinch control removes
small features (edges or narrow regions) at
the mesh level
• The Pinch feature is supported for the
following mesh methods:
• Patch Conforming Tetrahedrons
• Thin Solid Sweeps
• Hex Dominant meshing
• Quad Dominant Surface Meshing
• Triangles Surface meshing
– Not supported for CutCell meshing
 INFLATION
Used to generate prism layers (as explained in Global settings chapter)
Inflation layer can be applied to faces or bodies using respectively edges or faces as
the boundary
Inflation layer grown on edge boundary (red)

Inflation layer grown on face boundary (red)

 MESH QUALITY
• In this section, we will learn:
– Impact of the Mesh Quality on the Solution
– Quality criteria
– Methods for checking the mesh quality
– Tools to improve quality in Meshing
– Concept of Assembly Meshing
– Assembly Meshing Methods & Controls
 PREPROCESSING WORKFLOW
Import/
Geometry
Geometry Meshing Solver
Modifications
Creation

Sketches and
3D Operations Meshing Methods
Planes
Booleans, Hybrid Mesh: Tet,
3D Operations Decompose, etc. Prisms, Pyramids

Extrude, Revolve, Hexa Dominant,

Sweep, etc Geometry Sweep meshing
Cleanup and
Assembly
Geometry Import Repair Meshing
Options Automatic
Cleanup Global Mesh
Bi-Directional
CAD/ Neutral
Settings
Simplification,
Mid-surface, Local Mesh
Fluid Extraction Settings
Check Mesh
Sizing, Controls,
etc. Quality
MESHING PROCESS IN ANSYS MESHING
 IMPACT OF THE MESH QUALITY
• Good quality mesh means that…
– Mesh quality criteria are within correct range
• Orthogonal quality …
– Mesh is valid for studied physics
• Boundary layer …
– Solution is grid independent
– Important geometric details are well captured
• Bad quality mesh can cause;
– Convergence difficulties
– Bad physic description
– Diffuse solution
• User must…
– Check quality criteria and improve grid if needed
– Think about model and solver settings before generating the
grid
– Perform mesh parametric study, mesh adaption …
IMPACT OF THE MESH QUALITY ON THE SOLUTION

• Example showing
difference between a
mesh with cells failing
the quality criteria and
a good mesh
• Unphysical values in
vicinity of poor quality
cells
IMPACT OF THE MESH QUALITY ON THE SOLUTION

• Diffusion example (max,avg)CSKEW=(0.912,0.291)

(max,avg)CAR=(62.731,7.402)

Mesh 1 VzMIN≈-90ft/min
VzMAX≈600ft/min

Large cell size

(max,avg)CSKEW =(0.801,0.287)
change (max,avg)CAR=(8.153,1.298)
Mesh 2

VzMIN≈-100ft/min
VzMAX≈400ft/min
 GRID DEPENDENCY

x8
• Solution run with
multiple meshes DP 0 DP 3
• Note : For all runs the
computed Y+ is valid for
wall function (first cell
not in laminar zone)

2%
 GRID DEPENDENCY
• Hexa cells can be stretched in
stream direction to reduce
number of cells
• Bias defined on inlet and outlet
walls
• Bias defined on inlet edges

– 16 000 cells (~DP2)

– Delta P = 310 Pa (~DP3)
 HEXA VS. TETRA
Hexa
• Hexa: Concentration in one direction
– Angles unchanged
Tetra
• Tetra: Concentration in one direction
– Angles change
• Prism: Concentration in one direction Prism
– Angles unchanged
• Solution for boundary layer resolution
– Hybrid prism/tetra meshes
– Prism in near-wall region, tetra in Tetra (in volume)
volume
– Automated
– Reduced CPU-time for good boundary Prisms (near wall)
layer resolution
MESH STATISTICS AND MESH METRICS
Displays mesh information for Nodes and Elements
List of quality criteria for the Mesh Metric
• Select the required criteria to get details for quality
• It shows minimum, maximum, average and standard deviation
Different physics and different solvers have different requirements for mesh quality
Mesh metrics available in ANSYS Meshing include:
– Element Quality
– Aspect Ratio
– Jacobean Ration
– Warping Factor
– Parallel Deviation
– Maximum Corner Angle
– Skewness For Multi-Body Parts, go to corresponding body in Tree Outline
– Orthogonal Quality to get its separate mesh statistics per part/body
 MESH QUALITY METRICS
Orthogonal Quality (OQ) On cell On face
Derived directly from
A
Fluent solver discretization A1
c1 1
c2
f1 e1
• For a cell it is the minimum of:
f2 e2
Ai  fi Ai  ci f3 A2
e3 A2
c3
| Ai || f i | | Ai || ci |
A3 A3
computed for each face i
Ai  ei
For the face it is computed as the minimum of computed for each edge I
| Ai || ei |
Where Ai is the face normal vector and fi is a vector from the centroid of the cell to the centroid of that face,
and ci is a vector from the centroid of the cell to the centroid of the adjacent cell, where ei is the vector from
the centroid of the face to the centroid of the edge

At boundaries and internal walls ci is ignored in the computations of OQ 0 1

Worst Perfect
 MESH QUALITY METRICS
Optimal (equilateral) cell
Skewness
Two methods for determining skewness:
1. Equilateral Volume deviation:
optimal cell size  cell size
Skewness =
optimal cell size

Applies only for triangles and tetrahedrons Actual cell

2. Normalized Angle deviation:
 max Circumsphere
   e   min 
Skewness = max  max e ,   min
 180  e e 
Where  e is the equiangular face/cell (60 for tets and
tris, and 90 for quads and hexas)
– Applies to all cell and face shapes 0 1
– Used for hexa, prisms and pyramids Perfect Worst
 MESH QUALITY
Mesh quality recommendations
Low Orthogonal Quality or high skewness values are not recommended
Generally try to keep minimum orthogonal quality > 0.1, or maximum skewness < 0.95. However
these values may be different depending on the physics and the location of the cell
Fluent reports negative cell volumes if the mesh contains degenerate cells
Skewness mesh metrics spectrum

Orthogonal Quality mesh metrics spectrum

 ASPECT RATIO
2-D:
• Length / height ratio: δx/δy
3-D δy
• Area ratio δx
• Radius ratio of circumscribed / inscribed circle

Limitation for some iterative solvers

• A < 10 … 100
• (CFX: < 1000)
Large aspect ratio are accepted where there is
no strong transverse gradient (boundary
layer ...)
 SMOOTHNESS
Checked in solver
• Volume Change in Fluent Recommendation:
– Available in Adapt/Volume Good: 1.0 < σ < 1.5
Fair: 1.5 < σ < 2.5
– 3D : σi = Vi / Vnb
Poor: σ > 5 … 20

• Expansion Factor in CFX

– Checked during mesh import
– Ratio of largest to smallest element volumes
surrounding a node
 SECTION PLANES
Displays internal elements of the mesh
• Elements on either side of plane can be displayed
• Toggle between cut or whole elements display
• Elements on the plane
Edit Section Plane button can be used to drag section plane to new location
• Clicking on “Edit Section Plane” button will make section plane’s anchor to appear
Multiple section planes are allowed

For large meshes, it is advisable to switch to

geometry mode (click on geometry in the Tree
Outline), create the section plane and then go
back to mesh model
 MESH METRIC GRAPH
• Displays Mesh Metrics graph for the
element quality distribution
• Different element types are plotted with
different color bars
• Can be accessed through menu bar using
Metric Graph button

• Axis range can be adjusted using controls

button (details next slide)

• Click on bars to view corresponding

elements in the graphics window
– Use to help locate poor quality elements
 MESH METRIC GRAPH CONTROLS
• Elements on Y-Axis can be plotted with
two methods;
– Number of Elements
– Percentage of Volume/Area
• Options to change the range on either axis
• Specify which element types to include in
graph
– Tet4 = 4 Node Linear Tetrahedron
– Hex8 = 8 Node Linear Hexahedron
– Wed6 = 6 Node Linear Wedge (Prism)
– Pyr5 = 5 Node Linear Pyramid
– Quad4 = 4 Node Linear Quadrilateral
– Tri3 = 3 Node Linear Triangle
• Te10, Hex20, Wed15, Pyr13, Quad8 & Tri6
non-linear elements
 MESH QUALITY CHECK FOR CFX
– The CFX solver calculates 3 important measures of mesh
quality at the start of a run and updates them each time the
mesh is deformed
– Mesh Orthogonality
– Aspect Ratio
– Expansion Factor
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Mesh Statistics |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+ Good
Domain Name: Air Duct (OK)
Minimum Orthogonality Angle [degrees] = 20.4 ok
Maximum Aspect Ratio = 13.5 OK
Maximum Mesh Expansion Factor = 700.4 !
Domain Name: Water Pipe Acceptable
Minimum Orthogonality Angle [degrees] = 32.8 ok
Maximum Aspect Ratio = 6.4 OK (ok)
Maximum Mesh Expansion Factor = 73.5 !
Global Mesh Quality Statistics :
Minimum Orthogonality Angle [degrees] = 20.4 ok Questionable
Maximum Aspect Ratio = 13.5 OK (!)
Maximum Mesh Expansion Factor = 700.4 !
 MESH QUALITY CHECK FOR
FLUENT
Grid check tools available
• Check : Perform various mesh consistency checks
• Report Quality : lists worse values of orthogonal
quality and aspect ratio
• TUI command mesh/check-verbosity sets the
level of details in the report
 FACTORS AFFECTING QUALITY
Geometry problems
Geometry cleanup in Design Modeler
• Small edge
• Gaps or

• Sharp angle Virtual topology & pinch in Meshing

Meshing parameters
• Sizing Function On / Off
• Min size too large
• Inflation parameters Mesh setting change
– Total height
– Maximum angle
• Hard sizing
Meshing methods
• Patch conformal or patch independent tetra Mesh setting change
• Sweep or Multizone
• Cutcell
 VIRTUAL TOPOLOGY
When to use? Without VT With VT

• To merge together a number of small (connected)

faces/edges
• To simplify small features in the model
• To simplify load abstraction for mechanical analysis
• To create edge splits for better control of the surface
mesh control

Virtual cells modify topology

• Original CAD model remains unchanged
• New faceted geometry is created with virtual
topology

Restrictions
• Limited to “developable” surfaces
• Virtual Faces cannot form a closed region
automatically manually
 AUTOMATIC VIRTUAL TOPOLOGY
• Automatically creating Virtual Faces
– Left Click Virtual Topology in Model Tree
– Set Behaviour in Details
• Controls aggressiveness of automatic VT algorithm
• Low: merges only the worst faces (and edges)
• Medium & High: try to merge more faces
– Select if Face Edges shall be merged
– Right Click Virtual Topology and click Generate Virtual Cells
• Manually creating a Virtual Face
– RMB on Model tree and select Insert Virtual Topology
– Select Virtual Topology from the Tree Outline
– Pick faces or edges, RMB and Insert Virtual Cell

•All VT entities created can be seen in different

colors if Virtual Topology is selected in Tree Outline
 PINCH
• Pinch control removes small features automatically or
manually at the mesh level
• Slivers
• Short Edges
• Sharp Angles

• The Pinch feature works on vertices and edges only

before after before after
• The Pinch feature is supported for the following mesh
methods:
– Patch Conforming Tetrahedrons
– Thin Solid Sweeps
– Hex Dominant meshing
Vertex-Vertex Edge-Edge
– Quad Dominant Surface meshing
– Triangles Surface meshing

• Not supported for

» CutCell
ASSEMBLY
MESHING
MESHING PROCESS IN ANSYS MESHING
 ASSEMBLY MESHING
Behavior
• Meshes an entire model as single process Note that some
global and local
– Mesh Methods covered so far are part
controls are not
or body based methods available for
– Not compatible with part/body methods Assembly
• Two Algorithms available Meshing (eg.
Match Control)
– CutCell & Tetrahedrons CutCell

Access
• Assembly Meshing is accessible only when Tetrahedrons
Physics and Solver Preferences are set to
CFD and Fluent respectively
• To activate, replace None by Cutcell or
Tetrahedrons
 ASSEMBLY MESHING - CUTCELL
• CutCell Behavior
– Cartesian meshing method designed for
the ANSYS FLUENT solver
– Generates a majority of hex cells
• Some wedges, tets and pyramids at
boundaries to capture geometry
• During transfer to Fluent hexa cells at
size transition are converted into
Polyhedra
– Supports Inflation
• Post-inflation (TGrid algorithm)
– Baffles not supported
– High inflation may fail
• Cutcell mesh generated first,
inflation generated second (Post)
 ASSEMBLY MESHING - TETRAHEDRONS
• Tetrahedrons Behavior
– Generates a Patch Independent tetra mesh
with automatic defeaturing
– Following steps occur in background
• Generate CutCell
• Delete volume mesh
• Triangulate surface mesh and
improve
• Fill with tetra mesh
– Compatible with inflation
• Pre-inflation
– Algorithm similar to Tetra
Patch Conformal
ASSEMBLY MESHING - CONTROLS
• Controls
– Set Advanced Size Functions
• Proximity SF Sources : 'edges',
‘faces’ or ‘edges and faces’
• Define correct Min Size (details
next slide)
– Inflation defined by Global or Local
controls
• Combined Global & Local not
supported
• Program Control acts on Fluid
bodies only
– Bodies can be set as Fluid in
Body properties
• For Virtual Bodies, only automatic
Program Controlled inflation can
be used
– Define Feature and Tesselation controls
(see next slide)
– Apply any required local size controls
– Statistics
ASSEMBLY MESHING - CONTROLS Example 1. Min Size too
large compared to the size
of the geometric detail

Min Size definition

– Assembly Meshing is Patch Independent, geometry recovery and leakage
depend on local sizes
– Local sizes are driven by global min sizes and local hard sizing
• ‘Min Size’ and ‘Prox Min Size’ must be set with care Example2 . Doubling the
Min Size closes the gap
– Local mesh size recommendation to capture 3D features
• Local size < ½ feature size
– Local mesh size recommendation to close gaps
• 1/10 local size < gap size < ¼ local size : contact sizing can be defined
to close gap
• Gap size < 1/10 local size : gap closed
– Prior to meshing the user is advised to resolve geometry features properly
in CAD/DM
• Avoid unnecessary geometry details
• Features aligned with Coord. Syst. will be more easily recovered
ASSEMBLY MESHING - CONTROLS

– Feature Capture
• Program Controlled : default
which sets feature angle = 40
• Feature Angle : user angle to
define features to recover
– 0 to capture all
– Tessellation (faceting) refinement
• Program Controlled - default
which sets tessellation refinement
to 10% of the value of smallest
global min size
• Absolute Tolerance – user defined
tolerance
– Must be set to 5-10% of Incorrect tessellation may lead to
smallest size (global min leakage
sizes or local hard sizing)
• None - Sets tessellation
refinement to the CAD program or
DesignModeler default setting
 STAY AHEAD DURING CHALLENGING TIMES

• To purchase software or for consulting

please contact us: info@ozeninc.com

(408) 732-4665
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