About Automated FEM Methods

Automated FEM is a series of methods that allows you to mesh products and assemblies.

Automated FEM methods greatly accelerate the meshing process, integrate rules-based meshing technology, increase accessibility (no interactive app is required), and handle assemblies (a FEM assembly is created automatically).

The greatest advantage of Automated FEM is the ability to mesh multiple products without the need to load all the geometry and finite element model representations into memory.

This page discusses:

You can use Automated FEM methods with individual products or assemblies. You can use them to create an assembled finite element model (FEM) representation and to mesh an assembly made of subproducts with 3D shape representations. Automated FEM methods can also run procedures to idealize geometry or to complete other tasks on a product before meshing.

Automated FEM provides general-purpose and specialized methods you can use to prepare an FEM. In addition to the general-purpose and specialized methods provided in the app, you can define custom methods for creating finite element models and add them to the app. Custom methods appear in a dedicated section, My Methods. For more information, see Creating and Accessing Custom Methods for Automated FEMs.

General-Purpose Automated FEM Methods

The general-purpose Automated FEM methods use basic techniques to mesh any model geometry.

Standard
Manages solid and surface meshes for multiple bodies using basic parameters of mesh type, element order, size, sag, and thickness (for shell elements). This method can import and mesh point fasteners if they are included in the model.
Advanced
Provides increased control; you can choose the mesh procedure used for each part within the assembly. Several connection mesh procedures are also included (point, line, virtual bolt, or read from design).
User Driven
Manages the application of multiple mesh procedures and inputs to the parts in your assembly; generates meshes and quality reports for each part. This method does not support connections.
Empty FEM
Creates an empty finite element model linked to selected shapes.

Specialized Automated FEM Methods

The specialized Automated FEM methods create FEMs intended for a specific purpose.

Axisymmetric
Creates a cut through a 3D model to produce a 2D axisymmetric representation, the required cylindrical axis system, the FEM, and the mesh. You can then add model and scenario features to this simplified representation to generate results that represent the 3D design.
Submodel
Creates a submodel FEM from a selected region of the model. You can use submodels for advanced multi-scale multi-level simulations.
Preloaded
Creates a linked copy of the FEM from another analysis case. The new FEM includes mesh parts, groups, and numbering, and you can also include model constraints.
Lattice
Provides controls to create the FEM for additive manufacturing designs created with the Lattice Design app.
Functional Structure
Provides controls to create the FEM for large steel structures. For more information, see Simulation | Structures | Structural Model Creation | Setup | Functional Structure Finite Element Models | Creating Functional Structure Finite Element Models.