4/15/2020 Basic meshing algorithms — Mesh 9.4.

0 documentation

Basic meshing algorithms

The MESH module contains a set of meshing algorithms, which are used for meshing entities (1D,
2D, 3D sub-shapes) composing geometrical objects.

Note: Algorithms added to the module as plug-ins are described in documentation of the plug-
ins (menu Help / User’s Guide / Mesh module / Plugins).

An algorithm represents either an implementation of a certain meshing technique or an interface to

the whole meshing program generating elements of several dimensions.

For meshing of 1D entities (edges):

Wire Discretization meshing algorithm - splits an edge into a number of mesh

segments following an 1D hypothesis.
Composite Side Discretization algorithm - allows to apply a 1D hypothesis to a whole
side of a geometrical face even if it is composed of several edges provided that they
form C1 curve in all faces of the main shape.
For meshing of 2D entities (faces):

Triangle: Mefisto meshing algorithm - splits faces into triangular elements.

Quadrangle: Mapping meshing algorithm - splits faces into quadrangular elements.

Example of a triangular 2D mesh

Example of a quadrangular 2D mesh

For meshing of 3D entities (solid objects):

https://docs.salome-platform.org/latest/gui/SMESH/basic_meshing_algos.html 1/2
4/15/2020 Basic meshing algorithms — Mesh 9.4.0 documentation

Hexahedron (i,j,k) meshing algorithm - solids are split into hexahedral elements thus
forming a structured 3D mesh. The algorithm requires that 2D mesh generated on a
solid could be considered as a mesh of a box, i.e. there should be eight nodes shared
by three quadrangles and the rest nodes should be shared by four quadrangles.

Structured mesh generated by Hexahedron (i,j,k) on a solid bound by 16 faces

Body Fitting meshing algorithm - solids are split into hexahedral elements forming a
Cartesian grid; polyhedra and other types of elements are generated where the
geometrical boundary intersects Cartesian cells.

Some 3D meshing algorithms, such as Hexahedron(i,j,k) also can generate 3D meshes from
2D meshes, working without geometrical objects.

There is also a number of more specific algorithms:

Extrusion 3D - for meshing prismatic 3D shapes with hexahedra and prisms.

Quadrangle: Medial Axis Projection - for quadrangle meshing of faces with
sinuous borders and rings.
Polygon per Face meshing algorithm - generates one mesh face (either a
triangle, a quadrangle or a polygon) per a geometrical face using all nodes
from the face boundary.
Projection algorithms - for meshing by projection of another mesh.
Import algorithms - for meshing by importing elements from another mesh.
Radial Prism - for meshing 3D geometrical objects with cavities with
hexahedra and prisms.
Radial Quadrangle 1D-2D - for quadrangle meshing of disks and parts of
disks.
Use Faces/Edges to be Created Manually - to create a 1D or a 2D mesh in
a python script.
Segments around Vertex - for defining the length of mesh segments around
certain vertices.

Constructing meshes page describes in detail how to apply meshing algorithms.

See Also a sample TUI Script of a Defining Meshing Algorithms operation.

https://docs.salome-platform.org/latest/gui/SMESH/basic_meshing_algos.html 2/2