Glossary

A

advanced surface mesher

2D frontal mesher, providing linear triangle elements and linear quadrangle elements. This mesher allows the geometry simplification by creating domains.

B

bead

A rounded ridge of uniform width, straight or curved. Beads are used to stiffen sheet metal surfaces.

bead mesh method

Mesh method for beads, using quadrangle and triangle elements.

C

collapse

Suppression of an edge on a geometry by merging its two vertices. As a result, a vertex replaces the edge.

constraint

In the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench, a constraint on a geometry means that the mesher will take into account the constrained points (or the constrained edges) to build the mesh. As a result, a constraint applied to a vertex creates a node on this vertex, and a constraint applied to an edge aligns the element edges on this edge.

constraint sag

This global parameter helps creating constraints on a geometry, but does not guarantee that the whole mesh respects the sag value. For a given mesh size, a low constraint sag generates numerous constraints, and a high constraint sag generates few constraints. The constraint sag must value between 5% and 20% of the mesh size. This global parameter is only available with the advanced surface mesher.

crack

A geometry defect that occurs when two adjacent faces, near the free edges, are not geometrically linked.
The crack is a specification of the 2D frontal mesher.

cut

Creation of a vertex on an edge. As a result, the edge is cut in two edges.

D

domain

A sub part on a surface. You can specify a domain, to re-mesh, remove, or lock the mesh on this area.

duplicate element

Elements that share exactly the same nodes.

E

edge

On a geometry: salient angle of the surface.
On a mesh: border of an element.

F

free edge

Edge of an element, positioned on the border of the mesh.

frontal mesh method

Non-structured free mesh method, usable on all domains, using triangle and quadrangle elements. In the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench, the frontal method is a 2D mesh method.

G

global size

The target size for element edges.

I

interference

A given distance (or clearance) beyond which the elements generated are positioned. This lets you take into account the real width of the geometry.

intersection

A standard geometrical intersection.

imposed elements

Imposed elements on a mesh enforce the mesh to take into account these elements.

M

mapped free mesh method

Semi-structured mesh method for quadrangular geometry only, using quadrangle elements.

mapped mesh method

Structured mesh method for quadrangular geometry only, using quadrangle or triangle elements.

mapping mesh method

This mesh method copies and pastes a mesh from a geometry to a similar geometry.

mesher

Preprocessor for computational programs creating a virtual grid on the geometry.

minimum size

The minimum size of an edge of an element. When the Merge During Simplification option is activated, the mesher does not generate elements with edges shorter than the minimum size. This option is available with the advanced surface mesher.

maximal gap

In a connection context, this is the maximal distance between a geometric point and the mesh elements of each geometry to connect.

O

octree mesh method

Free mesh method, generating triangle elements for a 2D mesh, and tetrahedron elements for a 3D mesh.

offset

Small displacement (of a mesh or geometry).

P

part

A 2D or a 3D entity obtained by combining different features in the Part Design workbench.
Please see Part Design User's Guide for further information.

projection mesh method

This mesh method copies and pastes a mesh from a geometry to an identical geometry.

Q

quality analysis

You can control and visualize the quality of a mesh by selecting or modifying the quality criteria.

S

sag

The distance between the mesh elements and the geometry so that mesh refining is optimum in curve-type geometry.

smart surface mesh

Feature created in the specification tree when using the advanced surface mesher.

simplification

During simplification, edges under the minimum size are merged. This reduces the number of constraints. On a simplified geometry, the mesh always respects the minimum size of elements.

split

Creation of a constrained edge on a domain.

strip

In this thin area of the geometry, the mesh elements are created face to face, for an improved mesh.

structure design beam

Beam created in the Structure Design workbench.

T

tetrahedron filler

Mesher filling a 2D mesh with tetrahedron elements to create a 3D mesh.

tolerance

Maximum distance.

V

vertex

Point at the extremity of an edge, on a mesh or on a geometry.