Strand7 Software:  In Detail:  Automeshing:  Solid Meshing

Automatic meshing in Strand7

Automatic solid mesh generation The Solid Automeshing tool in Strand7 can be used to create a solid mesh out of any closed volume constructed from Strand7 surface elements. This means that a manually or automatically created closed surface mesh can be converted into a solid mesh. The Solid Automeshing tool constructs solid meshes out of either linear (4 node) or quadratic (10 node) tetrahedral elements.

This model of a bike wheel hub was saved as an IGES file in SolidWorks and imported into Strand7. The solid automeshing tool was used to generate 150704 tetrahedral elements.

This model of a Cupola was imported from an IGES file. Shown here is the Strand7 geometry, together with the surface mesh generated from the geometry and the solid mesh generated by utilising the surface mesh.

This model of a lever was saved as a SAT file in SolidWorks and imported into Strand7. The surface mesher generated 2468 quadrilateral plate elements. This mesh was fed into the tet mesher which used the quadilaterals to generate 16166 tetrahedral elements.

Surface model of a bridge imported from a SAT file from AutoCAD. Shown here is the Strand7 surface mesh in preparation for solid mesh generation.

This mesh consists of 109797 tetrahedral elements. A particular feature of this mesh is the thin plate-like sections. Here a single element correctly spans the through-thickness direction.

Complete gearbox comprising gearbox cover, internal shafts and gears. This mesh was constructed by combining the automeshing tools in Strand7 with the element manipulation tools. The final mesh consists of 13182 beam elements, 6110 plate elements, 393284 tetrahedral elements.

Solid mesh of elevated inlet tower for a dam. The mesh consists of around 276000 tetrahedral elements. The surface plate mesh is shown for clarity.

This image shows both the quadrilateral surface mesh (7453 plates) and the tetrahedral solid mesh (27858 tets) automatically generated on the housing.

Three parts were automatically meshed to create this model of the pliers, consisting of 12681 tetrahedral elements.

Three part mating die, consisting of 12074 tetrahedral elements.

For more information on automeshing, see Strand7 Webnotes - Modelling / Automeshing.