ITEM Tutorial

Step 6: Meshing the Geometry

The actual mesh generation process is usually quite iterative. Rare is the case where meshing succeeds perfectly on the first try, even when all volumes are "meshable". Even if it does succeed, it is usually constrained by areas of poor quality elements. ITEM was designed to help users navigate the iterative mesh generation process. When meshing fails, the mesh generation panel helps to explain common error messages and suggest possible strategies for getting a model to mesh.

• Click Mesh the geometry
• Click Generate Mesh. Meshing succeeds in this case, but on closer inspection, it appears as though it has forced a mapped mesh on two surfaces that would be better as paved surfaces.
• Right click on Meshed Volumes and select Delete Mesh

• Click on Volume 3-Surface 44 - Notice the scheme is set to map

• Click on the Meshing-Surface command panel and set the scheme to pave for Surface 44

• Repeat for Surface 20
• Go to command panel for Meshing-Volume and select Volume 3. Change the scheme to Sweep.

The mesh density didn’t adequately capture the mesh features. To decrease the mesh size, return to the setup panel.

• Back on the ITEM Panel, click on Setup the FEA model button on the left panel.
• Change the mesh size by moving the target mesh density slider one position to the left.
• Click Apply next to the Element Size

• Click on Done
• Click on Mesh the geometry
• Click on Generate Mesh