FFC - v5.0 04 Meshing

Meshing
Introduction to FLUENT
for CATIA V5
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
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FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Introductory Training, December 2009
Fluent for Catia Support center

http://www.fluentusers.com/ffc
Agenda
Training Manual
Introduction
Generating Mesh on the Domain
The Mesh Definition Panel
Available Meshers
Meshing: Global Parameters
Meshing: Surface Mesh Parameters
Meshing: Volume Mesh Parameters
Modifying Meshing Criteria for Mesh Parts
Non-Conformal and Hybrid Mesh
Boundary Layer Mesh Definition
Inspecting the Mesh
Mesh Quality
Appendix

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Introduction
Training Manual
CFD codes solve the governing

conservation equations of fluid flow
(and heat transfer) in each control
volume (cell or element)
numerically.
A reasonably good mesh is required
for achieving an accurate solution.
FLUENT for CATIA can
automatically generate a mesh for
your CFD simulation.
FLUENT for CATIA has a number of
meshing tools to create high quality
meshes.
Mesh Visualization and examination
tools are available to examine the
mesh for quality.
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Generating Mesh on the Domain
Training Manual
Double click Mesh Definition

under Environment or use the
Mesh Definition Icon to open
the panel for defining the mesh.
Meshing methods and
parameters can be specified in
the Mesh Definition panel.
To generate the mesh:
Right click Nodes and Elements
and select mesh visualization
on the contextual menu
Or use the compute button
to generate the mesh

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The Mesh Definition Panel
Training Manual
In the Mesh Definition panel, the mesh

size (the cell count) can be adjusted by
sliding the speed vs. accuracy bar:
This slider bar pilots all mesh parts in the
model (globally)
Many mesh parameters in the box are
driven by the slide bar.
If you modify one of these parameters
but later change the slider bar, the value
will be set up back to the default one. You
have to select the check box to prevent
the change.
Detailed meshing parameters can be set

under
Global, Geometry, Surface Mesh, Volume
Mesh Tabs

a check button
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Available Meshers
Training Manual
A mesher is selected by clicking an

icon:
Optimized Surface Mesher
the default mesher, which uses
proximity size functions
Advanced Surface Mesher

the standard surface mesher (FMS)
which does not use proximity size
functions
2D Octree Mesher
generates 2D Octree mesh. Nonconformal when meshing multiple
bodies
3D Octree Mesher
Also called the Octree Tetrahedron
mesher

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Training Manual
Global:
Critical length: the minimum length
of the models geometrical feature
that should be resolved by meshing
Min Mesh Size: allowed min cell size
for surface mesh (not available for
the Octree meshers)
Mesh Size: desired max cell size in
the domain (not available for the
Octree mesher)

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Training Manual
Geometry:
Constraint Sag: a constraint is
created on the edge of a surface to
avoid creating cells across the edge.
A lower constraint sag creates a the
tighter constraint
Angle between faces: angle between
two adjacent faces normals
Angle between curves: angle
between two tangents on a contour
Min Hole Size: diameter for
automatic hole detection

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Meshing: Surface Mesh Parameters
Training Manual
Surface Mesh:
Relative sag: the ratio between
the sag and the local mesh
edge length
Automatic mesh capture: on all
constraints (free, internal and
external edges)
Growth rate: the rate at which
the mesh is grown from
minimum to maximum.
Min face number: controls the
minimum number of elements
within any cross-section of the
body or face
Growth Rate and Min face are
critical to resolve proximity,
i.e., narrow gaps.

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Meshing: Volume Mesh Parameters
Training Manual
Volume meshing:
Size progression: specifies the rate
of change of the tet mesh.
Tgrid volume mesh creates a high

quality CFD mesh using the Tgrid
code from ANSYS.
Option to set Tgrid as the volume
mesher for fluid and solid volumes.
Boundary-layer meshes are used to

control the mesh density around
regions where boundary-layer
effects are important.
Boundary-layer prism mesh:
Available for fine mesh with slider
bar higher than 75%.
Alternately, enable Tglib at all
accuracies in ToolsOptions
Analysis and Simulation section
Fluent Tab Advanced Tab
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Modifying Meshing Criteria for Mesh Parts
Training Manual
Parameters for mesh parts of the

model geometry can be set
individually by accessing the mesh
parts under the Nodes and
Elements set in the specification
tree
Double click on the mesh part (e.g.,
FluidInlet.1_1) to open a
corresponding Global Parameters
dialog box in which the
mesh/geometry parameters can be
specified for this part only

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Non-Conformal and Hybrid Mesh
Training Manual
FLUENT for CATIA supports the use of non-conformal meshes in

which the volume meshes are non-conformal (no matching each
other) at the interfaces of the meshed volumes
Non-conformal meshes always occur when using sweeper meshing,
Octree 2D and 3D mesher with multiple volumes, or hybrid meshing
Hybrid Mesh: if no proper planes in the geometry can be used to
divide the flow volume, CATIA V5 Geometry Workbench can create
the cutting planes (from existing edges) to split the flow volume. The
resulting meshes on multiple volumes after the split will be nonconformal on the interfaces

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Boundary Layer Mesh Definition
Training Manual
Tglib 5.0 is used for

boundary/prism layer generation:
New tetrahedral mesh initialization
More robust prism growth
algorithm
New tetrahedral mesh size
progression for better tet mesh and
better consistency with FMD
mesher (mesh density and driving
parameters)
Growth rate/Size progression with
Boundary Layers possible
Ability to grow prisms/boundary
layers on Fluid Walls only
For sharp corners and narrow gaps,
you can allow compression of the
boundary layer or ignore i.e. not
grow it.

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Boundary Layer Mesh : Examples

Prism/BL impression on inlet/outlet boundary
Training Manual
No Prism/BL mesh on
interior
Uniform Growth of tetrahedral mesh beyond prism/BL

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Boundary Layer Mesh around Sharp Corners and Narrow

Gaps
Allow Compression option

Training Manual
Allow Ignore Option
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Inspecting the Mesh
Training Manual
Several tools are available in

the FLUENT for CATIA
workbench and the
Advanced Meshing Tools:
Mesh visualization mode

Quality analysis
Cutting plane
Quality visualization

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Mesh Quality Check
Training Manual
Right click on the Nodes and

Elements in the specification tree.
Select Mesh Visualization in the
contextual menu.
A new entry called Mesh.1 is added to
the specification tree
Click on Quality visualization icon
and the mesh is shown with quality in
different colors
Green (good), Yellow (moderate) and
Red (bad)
In CFD, mesh skewness is a relevant
parameter.
If cells have skewness higher than
0.95 it may result in convergence
difficulties especially when a more
precise solution is required.
Mesh statistics can also be viewed by
right clicking on the Nodes and
Elements, and selecting the Report
option.

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Mesh display based on quality
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Appendix: Additional Meshing Information

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Training Manual
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Meshing Control
Training Manual
Meshing parameters:
Geometry Tab:
Constraint sag: it controls the

constraint along the edge of a face.
The lower the sag value, the
greater the constraint
Angle between faces: angle
between two normals of
neighboring faces
Angle between curves: angle
between two tangents on a contour
Minimum hole size: automatic
deletion of holes smaller than this
diameter
Merge simplification: it allows the
optimization of nodes to be placed
in tight zones to improve qualities
of elements
Automatic curve capture: the
capture tolerance is used along
curves automatically
Note: all these parameters have identical name and meanings as

the one used in the advanced mesh workbench
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Meshing Control (contd)
Training Manual
Volume Mesh Tab:

Size Progression: rate of tetrahedral
mesh change for the domain
Use Boundary Layerenables the use of
boundary-layer mesh (using prisms).
They are used to control the prism mesh
around the boundaries of the domain
(this option only available when accuracy
is above 50%)
Boundary Layer method:
Uniform growth: the prism layer height
is uniform along the boundary
Aspect ratio: ratio of the prism base
length to the prism layer height allowing
the user to control the cells aspect ratio
in the boundary layer
Image changes

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Meshing Control (contd)
Training Manual
Boundary layer mesh (contd):

Users must specify the following
parameters:

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Number of layers
First layer height
Growth rate
Max. angle change of the normal
directions at a node during
smoothing
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Octree Meshing
Training Manual
Global Tab
Proportional Sag: Similar to
Relative Sag of FMS
Quality Tab
Criteria: Set the criteria for mesh
quality optimzation
Others Tab
Geometry Size Limit: Similar to
Critical Length of FMS
Max. No. Of Attempts: Maximum
no. of attempts used for meshing.

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Octree Meshing (Contd.)
Training Manual
Local Parameters A single surface mesh part will be formed

in Octree meshing.
Double click on this mesh part and a
Dialogue box will open as shown.
Here you can specify the local parameters
to each of the face of the geometry.
Local Specifications Local Mesh Can specify the mesh size
on each of the face.
Local Sag Can specify the Constraint
sag on each of the face.
Edges Distribution Can specify the
mesh distribution on edges.
Imposed Elements Can specify the
Vertices to be considered while
meshing.

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Polyhedral Mesh
Training Manual
Polyhedral meshes have overall lower

cell count (3-5 times lower) than the
original tetrahedral meshes. In addition,
mesh quality is improved because bad
and highly skewed tetrahedral cells are
combined to form acceptable polyhedral
cells. Two options are available:
Double Click the

Fluent Solution.1
Set on the
Specification Tree
Convert all tetrahedral cells to polyhedral

cells: But in the boundary layer region, no
change is made in the direction normal to
the surface so that the original heights of
the prism cells in the boundary-layer are
preserved
Convert only the skewed cells (above a
specified equivolume skewness) to
polyhedral cells: by agglomeration in
order to improve the mesh quality
Note that polyhedra mesh cannot be
displayed in CATIA. Refer to the FLUENT
for CATIA Users Guide for further details

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Meshing

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

CFD codes solve the governing

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

Generating Mesh on the Domain

Double click Mesh Definition

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

The Mesh Definition Panel

In the Mesh Definition panel, the mesh

Detailed meshing parameters can be set

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

A mesher is selected by clicking an

Advanced Surface Mesher

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

Meshing: Global Parameters

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

Meshing: Global Parameters

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

Meshing: Surface Mesh Parameters

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

Meshing: Volume Mesh Parameters

Tgrid volume mesh creates a high

Boundary-layer meshes are used to

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

Modifying Meshing Criteria for Mesh Parts

Parameters for mesh parts of the

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

February 17, 2009

FLUENT for CATIA V5 Version 5.0

Fluent for Catia Support center

Non-Conformal and Hybrid Mesh

FLUENT for CATIA supports the use of non-conformal meshes in

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary