[ICEM] Geometry and Mesh from STL file

semion · May 22, 2016, 10:52

Hello,
I'm working with an STL file of a blood vessel, I need to modify the geometry and build a robust mesh. The imported geometry is very irregular and I managed to trim out most of the little vessels attached to the main one. After these (probably badly performed) operations the build topology tool can't seem to fix much and the geometry I'm left with is full of errors, holes and imperfections.
1)Is there a way to smooth out my geometry so it can be meshed better?
2)If I import the STL file as mesh the inlet and outlet surfaces are badly meshed; how can I modify the mesh on just a selected surface?

Thank you to whomever will reply!

Nat Sam · May 23, 2016, 03:41

Hi

I had a problem like you. However my geometry is axisymetric and quite simple. So I did a "surface-surface intersection" with my geometry and a surface I created and "redraw" the geometry... I first drew an axis which luckily for me goes straight through my geometry. Then I drew a surface. DO you see what I mean ?

Hope this helps. Good luck !

semion · May 25, 2016, 06:22

Hi,
I appreciate your advice. I ended up solving the problem by not using ICEM to trim out the parts I needed to remove, instead I used Paraview which is a freeware and it's much easier to use. I then used Meshlab to fill the holes in a matter of minutes and then exported the stl to ICEM to mesh it. Such mesh appears to be working alright and can be imported into Fluent without problems.

Nat Sam · May 26, 2016, 08:28

Nicely done !
Btw, I just learned that working on STL fils on ICEM is not a good idea. It's easier if you have b-curves, b-splines, etc. ICEM works better on those than STL format ^^

Good luck !

May 22, 2016, 10:52	Geometry and Mesh from STL file	#1
semion New Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Hello, I'm working with an STL file of a blood vessel, I need to modify the geometry and build a robust mesh. The imported geometry is very irregular and I managed to trim out most of the little vessels attached to the main one. After these (probably badly performed) operations the build topology tool can't seem to fix much and the geometry I'm left with is full of errors, holes and imperfections. 1)Is there a way to smooth out my geometry so it can be meshed better? 2)If I import the STL file as mesh the inlet and outlet surfaces are badly meshed; how can I modify the mesh on just a selected surface? Thank you to whomever will reply!

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May 23, 2016, 03:41		#2
Nat Sam New Member Paurnamie Samarakone Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 25 Rep Power: 10	Hi I had a problem like you. However my geometry is axisymetric and quite simple. So I did a "surface-surface intersection" with my geometry and a surface I created and "redraw" the geometry... I first drew an axis which luckily for me goes straight through my geometry. Then I drew a surface. DO you see what I mean ? Hope this helps. Good luck !

May 25, 2016, 06:22		#3
semion New Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Hi, I appreciate your advice. I ended up solving the problem by not using ICEM to trim out the parts I needed to remove, instead I used Paraview which is a freeware and it's much easier to use. I then used Meshlab to fill the holes in a matter of minutes and then exported the stl to ICEM to mesh it. Such mesh appears to be working alright and can be imported into Fluent without problems.

May 26, 2016, 08:28		#4
Nat Sam New Member Paurnamie Samarakone Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 25 Rep Power: 10	Nicely done ! Btw, I just learned that working on STL fils on ICEM is not a good idea. It's easier if you have b-curves, b-splines, etc. ICEM works better on those than STL format ^^ Good luck !