*split_hex_continuum

Split solid element layers through all edges that are topologically parallel to the selected edges while maintaining connectivity and associativity.

Syntax

*split_hex_continuum node_array number_of_nodes entity_type mark_id layers growth_rate action component

Type

HyperMesh Tcl Modify Command

Description

Split solid element layers of any type through all edges that are topologically parallel to the selected edges while maintaining connectivity and associativity. The propagation is mostly occurring for hex/quad elements splitting along given topological directions.

Inputs

node_array
The ID of the node array, created using *createarray. Must always be set to 1.
Each pair of nodes represents a directed element edge (action < 3) or quad diagonal (action ≥ 3). Any node pair that is not an element edge is ignored. Any node that is not on the input elements is an error.
For action < 3, the action, input node array and the input elems uniquely define the elements continuum (call it "action elements") that the action is to be operated on.
number_of_nodes
The number of nodes in the node array. Must be an even number.
entity_type
The type of entity to split. Valid values are comps and elems.
mark_id
The mark of elements that are candidates to split. Valid values are 1 and 2. An empty selection means all elements are candidates. Note, if not all elements are candidates for split, the connectivity may break in the resulting mesh.
layers
The number of layers (> 2) to split. Used only for action 0.
growth_rate
The common ratio of thicknesses of consecutive split layers. 1.0 means constant layer thickness. Used only for action 0.
action
0 - Split "action elements" along topological parallels of the input element edges
1 - Delete the "action elements"
2 - Combine "action elements" to the next layer of existing elements indicated by the direction of each input edge. If not combinable, exit with error.
-1 - Preview the "action elements" by masking away "non-action elements".
-2 - Preview to-be combined elements by masking away all other elements.
≥ 3 - Internally call the legacy split command *propagatesplithexas with split_type= action-2 and looping through all pairs of input nodes.
Each input node pair should represent a diagonal of quad face of hex. The "action elements" per node pair are a chain of hexes connected by the topologically parallel quad faces starting from the face represented by the input node pair. In the resulting mesh, element connectivity may break and association may not be maintained.
component
0 - New elements go to current component.
1 - New elements go to original component.

Example

To split element 2 using nodes 21, 25, 41, 40, 21 and 41:
*createarray 6 21 25 41 40 21 41
*createmark elems 2
*split_hex_continuum 1 6 elems 2 2 1 0 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

2019.1