Criteria Settings

Setup the quality index (QI) mesh criteria in the Criteria File Editor.

This criteria is used in QI and batch meshing, and in QI-based element checks. Criteria definitions can be saved to a file, and loaded for subsequent editing.

The editor is laid out in a table format, with each check displayed in the first column, and the controls and values associated with each check in subsequent columns to the right.
Figure 1.


Target element size
Desired element size for the mesh.
CAUTION: Modifying this value may generate errors in the Min Size and Max Size, which will show up as red text.
Turn checks on/off
In the On column, use the checkbox to turn each individual check on/off.
Fail value
In the Fail column, edit the fail value for each specific check.
Good, warn, worst, and weight value
The Good, Warn, and Worse fields are interpolated or extrapolated automatically.
Select the Advanced Criteria Table checkbox to access the Weight, Good, Warn and Worst columns and edit each check's corresponding value.
Such changes modify how the quality index value is calculated, but do not significantly impact the final mesh. Weight factors are also adjustable, but they also do not make a large difference in the final mesh, unless they are set to an order of magnitude higher than the others. Default values for the weight factors are recommended.
Calculation methods
In the last column, select a calculation method to apply for certain checks. Available methods may vary for each check.
To use more than one solver’s method, select the Individual Methods option from the first list box in the last column. The different solver calculation methods are described in How Element Quality is Calculated. The Chordal Deviation check is currently ignored when performing batch meshing or QI meshing. It is only used to calculate the QI value from the Quality Index panel.
Minimum length calculator
Below the table is a minimum length calculator, based on time step, which can be used to calculate the suggested minimum length, based on a material, time step, and a scale factor.
A pre-defined material can be selected, or a custom material can be defined.
Apply the calculated minimum length by selecting the Use min length from timestep calculator checkbox.

Click the Criteria3D tab to edit the current 3D element criteria.