Meshing Options for Meshing Options for Irregular ShapesIrregular Shapes

Brian PrinceBrian Prince

Updated Dec 19, 2006Updated Dec 19, 2006

How should we Mesh this?How should we Mesh this?

When creating this When creating this type of geometry, type of geometry, make sure all your make sure all your lines correspond lines correspond to the same to the same keypoints, keypoints, otherwise you will otherwise you will not be able to not be able to create the area!create the area!

Free Mesh ExamplesFree Mesh Examples

This Free Mesh has the area divided into smaller areas and with a refined mesh size, however, many of the elements are still irregularly shaped.

Mapped MeshingMapped Meshing

There are two ways to There are two ways to complete a mapped complete a mapped mesh.mesh. The mesh may be The mesh may be

mapped from lines and mapped from lines and cannot have more cannot have more than 4 sidesthan 4 sides

The area may be The area may be meshed by corners meshed by corners and cannot have more and cannot have more than 5 sidesthan 5 sides

Example 1Example 1

We first do a mapped mesh on the areas that We first do a mapped mesh on the areas that are defined by four linesare defined by four lines

We will then apply transition meshes for the We will then apply transition meshes for the center areas.center areas.

Example 1Example 1

Example 2Example 2

We use the corners of the Geometry to our We use the corners of the Geometry to our advantage to be able to map mesh the entire advantage to be able to map mesh the entire geometry.geometry.

Example 2Example 2

While this mesh is much more uniform throughout, we still have some oddly shaped elements at the corner of our arcs.

Example 2Example 2

Example 3Example 3

In this example, we perform a Boolean operation In this example, we perform a Boolean operation on the lines defining our areas. We “glue” the on the lines defining our areas. We “glue” the lines together to able to create larger areas we lines together to able to create larger areas we can then map mesh.can then map mesh.

Example 3Example 3

ConclusionConclusion

For Irregular Shapes, it is not always a For Irregular Shapes, it is not always a good idea to use a free meshgood idea to use a free mesh

A mapped mesh can be achieved by A mapped mesh can be achieved by properly dividing the geometry into areas properly dividing the geometry into areas that can be mappedthat can be mapped

When choosing the areas, remember the When choosing the areas, remember the critical points and stress risers and make critical points and stress risers and make sure to try and achieve the best shaped sure to try and achieve the best shaped elements at these pointselements at these points