Creating a 2D Source Mesh

When using Directed Meshing, you can create 2D source surface meshes using the automated 2D mesh operation. This approach allows you to include prism layers on the source surface, which are then swept along the length of the connected parts.

The 2D source surface mesher behaves in the same way as the automated mesh operations that are available in the main simulation tree, allowing you to update the Directed Mesh as part of a repeatable pipeline of parts-based mesh operations.

Before creating 2D source surface meshes, make sure that you have created a Directed Mesh operation and defined the Source and Target surfaces. The source surfaces can be planar or non-planar.

You can create a 2D source surface mesh within the Directed Mesh operation in the simulation tree, or in the Directed Mesh in-place edit dialog (accessed by right-clicking on the Directed Mesh operation node and selecting Edit...).

The following workflow describes the steps to follow in the Directed Mesh in-place edit dialog:

  1. Right-click the Source Meshes node and select New Source Mesh > Automated Source Mesh.
  2. In the Part Collection For This Source Mesh dialog:
    1. Select the part collection on which to create the 2D source surface mesh.
    2. Select the necessary Volume Meshers and Optional Volume Meshers.
    3. Click OK.
    An Auto Mesh node appears under the Source Meshes node.

    The Auto Mesh node in Directed Meshing provides the same functionality as the Automated Mesh node outside of Directed Meshing. The Default Controls and Custom Controls in the auto mesh are also comparable to the Default Controls and Custom Controls in the Automated Mesh operation except the Anisotropic Surface Size Maximum Aspect Ratio.

    The maximum available range for the Maximum Aspect Ratio in directed meshing is 3 to 25. A high aspect ratio is recommended when curves are straight and not located near surfaces of high surface curvature.

  3. Define the parameters of the 2D source mesh.
    For more information, see Surface Mesher Controls And Values.
Using a custom surface control, you can generate a mixed mesh (that is, a mesh that has different elements on the 2D source mesh) and sweep it along the guide surface.
  1. To create a mixed mesh:
    1. Create a custom surface control and add to it the surfaces on which you want to have different element types.
      These surfaces must be part of the source surfaces. For more information, see Surface Controls.
    2. Expand the Custom Controls > Surface Control > Controls node.
    3. Select the Dominant Element Type node and choose the desired element type.
      For more information, see Dominant Element Type.
Within the Directed Mesh in-place edit dialog, you can create the 2D source surface mesh without executing the Directed Mesh operation. However, in the simulation tree, the 2D source surface mesh cannot be updated without executing the directed mesh operation.
  1. Right-click the Source Meshes > Auto Mesh node and select Update....
    The 2D source surface mesh is displayed in the graphics window. You can adjust the parameters of the 2D source surface mesh and update it as necessary before executing the Directed Mesh operation.


    When you execute the Directed Mesh operation, the 2D source surface mesh is swept from the source surface along the guide surface to the target surface. If prism layers are included on the 2D source surface mesh, these are also swept through the volume of the Directed Mesh.



To delete a source mesh from within the directed mesher menu:
  • Right-click the source mesh in the Graphics window and select Delete Source Mesh.