Generating the Solid Mesh

In Simcenter 3D, create a finite element model and generate the mesh for the solid disc.

To create a Simcenter Nastran finite element model:
  1. Select File > Pre/Post.


  2. In the Simulation Navigator panel, right-click disc.prt and select New FEM...
  3. In the New Part File dialog:
    1. Select the Simcenter Nastran template.
    2. Make sure that Folder is set to the Simcenter 3D folder of your working directory.
    3. Click OK.


  4. In the New FEM dialog, click OK.
For the disc, you generate a mesh of hexahedral elements. To achieve a hexahedral mesh, you sweep a quadrilateral mesh from a set of source surfaces to a set of target surfaces, creating three layers through the disc thickness:
  1. In the Home Mesh menu, select 3D Swept Mesh.


  2. In the 3D Swept Mesh dialog:
    1. Select the Until Target mode.


    2. In the Objects to Mesh group box, click the Select Source Face selector.


    3. In the graphics window, select the two top surfaces.


    4. In the Objects to Mesh group box, click the Select Target Face selector.
    5. In the graphics window, rotate the geometry using the mouse middle button and select the two bottom surfaces.
    6. In the Source Mesh Parameters group box, activate Attempt Free Mapped Meshing and set Attempt Quad Only to On - Zero Triangles.
    7. In the Wall Mesh Parameters group box, activate Use Layers and set Number of Layers to 3.
    8. Click OK.
    The mesh appears as shown below, with three layers through the thickness:

  3. Select File > Save > Save.