Surface Mesh

Mesh > Face > Surface Mesh

Introduction

The Surface Mesh allows you to mesh all the faces of the device i.e. to generate the surface mesh.

Note: For more details on Surface Mesh, please refer to Surface Mesh.
Note: Instead of using the Surface mesh and Tet mesh, it is possible to generate easily and quickly a volume mesh with the EM Mesh tool which takes into account the bodies geometry (shape and size). Please refer to EM Mesh.

Dialog Box

In the case of 3D MagnetoStatic, 3D Transient Magnetic, and 3D Magnetic AC solutions:

The minimum information to be entered is:
  • The Element Type
    As part of the MS3D Workflow, MT3D Workflow, and MAC3D Workflow, it is recommended to use:
    • Tri3 corresponding to 1st order triangular mesh elements
    or
    • Tri6 corresponding to 2nd order triangular mesh elements.

      The 2nd order elements are necessary if there are solid conductors and if the Format and Execute options Solving mode with Solid Conductor is set to Accurate (it is the default value). But please note that 2nd order mesh can lead to huge solving time increase in 3D.

    Important: It is mandatory to have the same mesh order on all the bodies of the solution (Mesh Controls, Surface Mesh and Tet Mesh): all should be either of 1st order mesh only or all should be of 2nd order mesh only.
  • The Mesh Size

    For example by entering the Average element size.

And it is mandatory to have a conforming surface mesh, so the Create matching mesh (Parasolid) option is checked by default.

Steps

  1. Click on the Surface Mesh button in Mesh ribbon:

  2. For example, in our contactor project, we choose a 1st order mesh (since we chose 1st order mesh elements for Mesh Controls) with triangular elements:

    In Element Type, check Tri3.

  3. In Mesh Size, in the Average element size field, enter 2 mm.
    Important: Information you set in Mesh Controls has priority over what you set in Surface Mesh.

    As a reminder, we set a mesh size of 0.5 mm on the 2 coil bodies.

    Therefore, all the bodies except the ones corresponding to the 2 coils are meshed with an element size four times as large as on the coils.

  4. By default, if the solution is a 3D MagnetoStatic or 3D Transient Magnetic or 3D Magnetic AC one, the Create matching mesh (Parasolid) option is checked, you can verify it.

    Important: The Create matching mesh (Parasolid) option must be checked in order to have a conforming surface mesh.
  5. Select all the bodies:

    The outlines of all the bodies are displayed in red.

  6. Click on the OK button.
  7. Before generating the surface mesh, a warning window opens, as a conforming surface mesh is going to be generated.

    Click on the Yes button.

    The surface mesh is generated.

    To the left of the graphic window, in the Model Browser, in the 1st tab Assembly, there are the initial model .x_t and a new model .gda which has been created.
    • The initial model .x_t corresponds to the CAD model and the corresponding bodies are now invisible.
    • The new model .gda contains the meshed bodies and all are visible. The body icon corresponds to a surface mesh.
    Before Surface Mesh After Surface Mesh

Advices

  • After having optionally created and assigned Mesh Controls on particular areas requiring a specific mesh, you can generate the surface mesh on all the bodies via Surface Mesh then generate the volume mesh via Tet Mesh.

    It is to be noted that all the mesh information set in Mesh Controls has priority over the information in Surface Mesh.

  • Have the same mesh order on all the bodies of the solution is mandatory: 1st order mesh only or 2nd order mesh only.
    For example, for Surface Mesh:
    • 1st order mesh with triangular elements: Tri3, for better meshing and solving performance
    • 2nd order mesh with triangular elements: Tri6, necessary if there are solid conductors and if the Format and Execute options Solving mode with Solid Conductor is set to Accurate (it is the default value)
  • Generate a conforming surface mesh is mandatory, so the Create matching mesh (Parasolid) option must be checked, and if it is a 3D MagnetoStatic or 3D Transient Magnetic or 3D Magnetic AC solution, this option is checked by default.

Limitations

Currently it is not possible to have quadrangular 2nd order surface elements on the solution bodies external faces. In fact, the infinite box cannot be created.