Hello! I have to mesh a solid in gambit before starting a FE analysis, and I would like to know if there's a way to force the mesh within the solid, not only on the faces. The proble is when I check the mesh using the cut display option, the resulting section is rather "messy", with not uniform distribution of solid, even in basic geometry parts such as a cilinder. I need to use tetrahedral elements.

Thanks in avance, Daniele

Hi Daniele.

I suppose you're referring mishing the volume, not only the faces. To do that you must create a volume from your faces (faces must create a close volume) and then mesh in the same way you mesh faces, but with volumemesh option.

Creating the volume is a hard stuff, because Gambit is very restrictive with the fact that faces must enclose near the perfection a volume. The "connect faces" function is essencial for creating the volume.

Hope this helps a little. Bye!

Sorry I wasn't more accurate. I imported a CAD drawing of my piece, and to create the mesh I began with the faces, since it has a complex geometry. The point is that the face mesh is quite good, but the one inside the volume is absolutely not uniform. That's why I wanted to know if there's the possibility to "drive" the mesh within a volume.

Thanks again! Daniele

Mmmmmm ok!

I think that if you're using tetraedral elements there's no way to "align" the mesh, cause the only option to mesh in gambit with that sort of 3D elements is "pave" and there's no "mapping" option as hex elem. for example. If you want your mesh to be aligned to the flow I think you'd better try to mesh your faces with Quad elem. and mapping/submapping option and then try a Hex or hybrid volume mesh. Or you can make a boundary layer aligned to the flow in your walls if you want to keep those tetraedrals elements in your mesh.

Bye!

Thank you all for your suggestion, but mine is not a problem of CFD, is just that I need to mesh my piece. Any other tips? Thank you very much!! Daniele

If you're running a continuum mechanics problem such as a structural analysis or something like that, I don't think you have to trouble with the "orientation" of the mesh: the only thing I should take care is about the precission of the result: for hybrid hex/tetr. elements you will get a more precise solution than using tetraedral elements.

Bye Daniele!