Create elements
All element types can be created.
1. | From the Menu Bar, select Mesh Editing > Element > Create. |
or
If the Mesh Editing panel is already open, select Element > Create from the pull-down menu in the panel.
2. | Enter a name in the Part creation field and click Ok to create a new part. (All the created elements will be added onto this new part.) |
or
• | Click and pick a part in the graphic window. |
• | Click to add parts by box selection and answer the question in the Dialog menu bar with Yes or Cancel. |
The default box is rectangular. Use the SHIFT key to define a polygon box.
• | Click to select a part (only one) in the tree. (All the created elements will be added onto this selected part). |
3. | Choose your element creation type: |
• | Switch the toggle button Elements / Meshing OFF to mesh a plane with four-nodes shell elements by selection for the edge. |
• | Switch the toggle button Elements / Meshing ON to create any type of element one-by-one. |
Element type selection Meshing
1. | The Property File window appears. In the property database, select a shell property and validate with OK. |
2. | The Shell Property Card window appears. The parameters can be modified. |
• | Click OK to save the property. |
• | Click Cancel to cancel the property selection. |
• | The Property File window appears. In the property database, select a shell property and validate with OK. |
3. | The Material File window appears. In the material database, select a shell material and validate with OK. |
4. | The Shell Material Card window appears. The parameters can be modified. |
• | Click OK to save the material. |
• | Click Cancel to cancel the material selection. |
5. | Switch OFF or ON the toggle button, Pitch / Number of nodes. |
• | If the toggle button is ON: |
- | Enter the mesh size (pitch) between Node 1 and Node 2. |
- | Enter the mesh size (pitch) between Node 2 and Node 3. |
• | If the toggle button is OFF: |
- | Enter the number of nodes between Node 1 and Node 2. |
- | Enter the number of nodes between Node 2 and Node 3. |
6. | Click and pick four nodes on the graphic window with the same order as the shell element creation. |
7. | Click to view the mesh creation proposal. |
8. | Click Save to save the created elements; or |
Click Cancel to cancel the element(s) creation.
9. | Click Close to close the menu. |
Element type selection Element
1. | Click Choose an element type and select an element type from the list. |
A Property File window opens.
2. | In the property database, select a shell property and validate with OK. |
3. | The Shell Property Card window appears. The parameters can be modified: |
• | Click OK to save the property. |
• | Click Cancel to cancel the property selection. |
4. | The Property File window appears. In the property database, select a shell property and validate with OK. |
5. | The Material File window appears. In the material database, select a shell material and validate with OK. |
6. | The Shell Material Card window appears. The parameters can be modified. |
• | Click OK to save the material. |
• | Click Cancel to cancel the material selection. |
7. | Pick nodes in the graphic window to create the element: |
• | two or three nodes for a spring element |
• | four nodes for a four-nodes shell element |
• | three nodes for a three-nodes shell element |
• | eight nodes for the solid element: |
o | eight different nodes for a hexahedron |
o | six different nodes for a pentahedron, plus pick the fifth and sixth nodes a second time each to define nodes that collapse into the penta's fifth node. |
o | four different nodes for a pentahedron's base, plus pick the fourth node four additional times. An automatic projection (in accordance with the predefined element quality criteria) from the fourth node creates a fifth node. |
8. | Select new nodes to create other elements in the same part. |
9. | When finished, click Cancel in the Dialog menu bar to stop the node selection. |
10. | Click Save to save the created elements; or |
Click Cancel to cancel the element(s) creation.
11. | Click Close to close the menu. |
See also
1D Element
2D Element
3D Element
Convert Element