Lecture 3:

Introduction to ANSYS Meshing

16.0 Release

Introduction to ANSYS Meshing

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 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

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 Preprocessing Workflow

Import/
Geometry
Geometry Meshing Solver
Modifications
Creation

Sketches and Planes 3D Operations Meshing Methods

Booleans, Hybrid Mesh: Tet,

3D Operations Decompose, etc. Prisms, Pyramids

Extrude, Revolve, Hexa Dominant,

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

Sizing, Controls,
etc.
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 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

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 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

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 Meshing Process in Ansys Meshing

• Physics, Sizing, Inflation, Pinch, …

• Sizing, Refine, Pinch, Inflation, …

• Preview surface mesh, Inflation

• Mesh metrics, Charts

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 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

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 Graphics User Interface
Toolbars

Outline Graphics window

Worksheet

Details view

Manage views Message window Mesh Metrics

Section Planes

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 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.

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 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

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 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
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 Geometry Configuration – Multi-body Parts
• Geometry composed of multiple bodies in a part
– Depend on ‘Shared Topology method’ (in DM)
 None
o 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’
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 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

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 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 & hexahedrons
• Meshing Methods are scoped • MultiZone.
to individual bodies. − Mainly hexahedron
• Method assignment can be • Hex Dominant
automatic or manual. − Not for CFD
• Bodies contained in one part • Automatic.
are conformally meshed. − Sweep + PC Tet
(Depends on bodies) or
PC Tet

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 Meshing – 3D Geometry
• Second Meshing Approach

Cut Cell Meshing

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

• Conformal mesh created across

parts. Part/Body Meshing
& Assembly Meshing
not interoperable

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 Summary
What have we learnt in this session:
• The global process to run ANSYS Meshing
• On overview of the interface and
• The various Geometry configurations
– Multiple parts
– Multi-body parts And the associated
– Multiple body parts shared topology option
• Meshing methods
– Part/body based
– Assembly meshing

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 Workshop 3.1 – Ansys WB Meshing Basics

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