*beams_to_surfaces

Create surfaces/meshes from 1D beams.

Syntax

*beams_to_surfaces entitytype=<value> mark=<value> <option1>=<value1> <option2>=<value2> ... <optionN>=<valueN>

Type

HyperMesh Tcl Modify Command

Description

Create surfaces/meshes from 1D beams. The beams must have valid section data assigned.

Inputs

1dtosolid=<value>
Specifies whether to create 2D surfaces or 3D solids from the beam.
0 - creates 2D surfaces (default)
1 - creates 3D solids (valid only for standard sections)
domesh=<value>
Specifies whether the generated surfaces should be meshed. Valid only when 1dtosolid is set to 0.
0 - Do not mesh
1 - Mesh (default)
dosnap=<value>
Specifies whether the generated surfaces should be snapped at the surface intersection within snaptol:
0 - Do not snap (default)
1 - Snap
entitytype=<value>
The type of input 1D entities. Valid values are elements and components. This is a mandatory option.
mark=<value>
The ID of the mark of input entities. Valid values are 1 and 2. This is a mandatory option.
meshextension=<value>
Specifies whether the generated mesh should be extended to the connected surfaces:
0 - Do not extend (default)
1 - Extend
meshsize=<value>
The size of the mesh when domesh=1. The default is the global element size.
meshtype=<value>
Specifies the mesh element type when domesh=1:
0 - Tria
1 - Quad only
2 - Mixed (default)
referencepoint=<value>
Describes the reference point of the beam to be used for surface creation:
beamnode – Surfaces are congruent with the beam nodes. Not valid when 1dtosolid is set to 1.
centroid – Reference point is used as the centroid of the beam section.
shearcenter – Reference point is used as the shear center of the beam section.
shellsectiondestination=<value>
The surface/mesh component organization in shell section only.
sortbycurrent – Current component (default)
sortbysource – Source beam 1D component
sortbypart – Component with part-name as name
sortbythickness – Component with part-name and thickness value as name
smoothcurves=<value>
Specifies to have smooth surfaces or straight surfaces at the beam for shell sections only.
0 - Straight segments
1 - Smooth segments (default)
stitchtol=<value>
The stitch tolerance when dosnap=1. The default is the global geometry cleanup tolerance.
surfacecreationtype=<value>
The surface generation mode for shell sections only.
surfacebyguidelines – Create surface using the guidelines formed by connecting points of each section (default)
surfacebysections – Create surfaces at each section
tobeamcomponent=<value>
Specifies the surface/mesh component organization:
0 - Current component (default)
1 - Source 1D component
x_breakangle=<value>
The angle value in degrees to break the source 1D chain.
y_breakangle=<value>
The angle value in degrees to break the beam offset.

Examples

To create surfaces and mixed mesh of size 100, snapping the surfaces, extending the mesh, and making the surfaces and mesh congrument with the base mesh:
*beams_to_surfaces entitytype=elems mark=1 usebeamnode=1 meshextension=1 dosnap=1 domesh=1 meshsize=100 meshtype=2 stitchtol=0.0 tobeamcomponent=1

Errors

Incorrect usage results in a Tcl error. To detect errors, you can use the catch command:
if { [ catch {command_name...} ] } {
   # Handle error
}

Version History

2021

2022.1 - Added new optional arguments 1dtosolid, referencepoint, x_breakangle, y_breakangle, smoothcurves, shellsectiondestination, and surfacecreationtype. Removed argument usebeamnode.