Meshing CAE
Meshing is the foundation for all FE based CAE activity. A
quality mesh is a prerequisite for reliable CFD and FE analyses
projects as is a thorough comprehension of the effects of a mesh on
a result. FEA and CFD meshes have some similarities in the process in which
they are created, but the requirements differ particularly on the
types of elements used and the source geometry required. In many
cases meshing is the bottle neck for the analysis process often
taking up the majority of the time in the project. Geometry quality
can be directly related to the speed in which a mesh can be
generated. Aligned CAE meshing services are divided into
three main
categories:
- CFD Meshing
- FEA Meshing
- Parametric Midsurface
An FEA mesh source typically consists of a mid-surface or solid body
of the structure. Element types typical for FEA include variations
of
TRIS, QUADS, TETS and HEXA elements. Mesh quality is critical for
reliable results. For more information on FEA meshing please
visit =>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite_element_method
A CFD mesh source consists of geometry that defines the fluid
boundaries. A typical CFD volume mesh consists of TETS, HEX and/or
Polyhedral elements. As with an FEA mesh, quality is critical to
achieve reliable convergence of a solution. Recent advances in
surface wrapping technologies have reduced CFD meshing times for
highly complex geometries significantly, providing results much
quicker than previously possible. For more information on
CFD Meshing please visit =>
http://www.cfd-online.com/Wiki/Meshing
A parametric midsurface is fully parameterized CAD geometry
dedicated to the purpose of FEA or CFD. The geometry is easily
modifiable by the adjustment of variables imbedded in the CAD system. Meshes can also be
dynamically linked to the base geometry and can be automatically updated
based on the variable change. These models are extremely useful for
FEA and CFD optimization activities allowing the rapid generation of
many possible design iterations. It should be noted that the
parametric CFD surface is not the actual midsurface of the structure
but the surface that defines the fluid domain.
Complete Vehicle cabin Mesh for FMVSS De-Ice simulation