Creating a FEM Based on Matching Rules

You can use the advanced method in the Automated FEM application to assign different meshing rules to the parts and connections in an assembly.

The advanced method provides more control over the mesh than the standard method does. You can choose the mesh procedure used for each part within the assembly. You can also choose connection mesh procedures for several connection types.

Before you begin:
  • A product must be open in Model Assembly Design.
  • If you use surface (triangle or quad) mesh procedures, publications containing the surfaces mesh are required. Publications are optional for other predefined procedures. However, if you do not use publications, the main PartBody must contain the part geometry required to generate a mesh.
See Also
About the Advanced Automated FEM Method
About Automated FEM Methods
Correcting Finite Element Model Problems
  1. From the Automated FEM section of the action bar, click Automated FEM , and then select Advanced.
    The Automated FEM: Advanced panel appears.
  2. From the Mesh and Properties options, specify the automated modeling mesh procedure that you want to use and the parts to which the procedure applies. The following procedures are available:
    OptionDescription
    Rule-based procedures Triangle, Quad, Octree Tetrahedron, Tetrahedron, Sweep, and Midsurface mesh
    Parameter-based procedures Surface Triangle, Surface Quad, Octree Tetrahedron, Tetrahedron, Sweep, and Midsurface

    When you specify the scope for which your selected procedure applies, you can apply the procedure to all parts, parts with a publication, or parts with a name.

  3. From the Selection Modes (for all mesh procedures except sweep), specify the bodies to mesh with the automated procedure:
    OptionDescription
    Main body Creates the FEM for the primary 3D geometry in each 3D shape (the part body, a solid body, or one volume in an ordered geometric set).
    All geometries Creates the FEM for all 3D geometry in the assembly, including part bodies, bodies, and ordered geometric sets.
    Visible geometries Creates the FEM for visible geometry only.
  4. Do one of the following:
    1. For rule based procedures, click select rule to assign a meshing rule.
    2. For parameter based procedures, specify the mesh parameters.
  5. Optional: Click to add additional mesh procedures.
  6. From the Connections options, specify the automated modeling procedure that you want to use and the parts to which the procedure applies. The following procedures are available:
    OptionDescription
    Read from design Imports connections contained in the product structure.
    Geometrical point detection Creates connections based on point detection rules.
    Geometrical line detection Creates connections based on line detection rules.
    Virtual bolt detection Creates connections on virtual bolts.
  7. From the Applied on options, select one of the following to define the search domain:
    OptionDescription
    All Parts Includes all parts.
    Geometries with Publication Includes all geometries that contain publications.
    Parts Or Geometries With Name Includes parts and geometries defined by the user's input.

    For parts, the input can be the part name or the path to the part. For geometry, you must specify the path to the product.

    For product paths, separate each object in the path with "!". If you do not define a product path, the app searches all the parts and products.

    For geometric paths, prefix "|" to the geometric set, and separate each subsequent object in the geometric path with "!". The first object must be a geometric set. If the first object is not defined, the app searches the geometric features in all geometric sets.

    Examples:

    • Product1!Product2!Part3
    • Product1!Part2|GeomSet1!GeomFeat2
    • |GeomSet1!GeomFeat2
    • |!GeomFeat2
    Meshed Supports Includes all meshed geometries.
  8. Click Select rule to select a connection template.
    New connections use the connection properties defined in the template.
  9. If you are using one of the detection methods, enter the search tolerances.
    The detection algorithm finds connection locations that are within the defined search tolerances.
  10. Optional: Enter a Prefix, which is applied to the fastener names.

    The prefix is prepended to the fastener names.

    Prefixes can help organize or identify groups of imported fasteners.

  11. From the Creation location options, select how the model connections are stored in engineering connections:
    OptionDescription
    One engineering connection for all connection properties Creates a single engineering connection for all detected connection properties.
    One engineering connection per connected parts Creates or selects engineering connections based on which parts are connected.
    One engineering connection per connection property Creates an engineering connection for each different connection property.
    In current finite element model Creates connection definitions in the current finite element model for any detected connections.
  12. Optional: Click to add additional connection procedures.
  13. Optional: Select Create one FEM per part to create separate finite element models for each part.
  14. Optional: If you are reading fasteners from the design, select Create Automated Specification to save the detection tool options so that you can easily regenerate the connections after a model change. For more information, see Structural Model Creation: About Automated Specifications.

    This option is available only if you do both of the following:

    • Set the Search domain option to Meshed supports.
    • Set the engineering connection Creation location to In current finite element model.
    Note: If you selected the Read from design procedure, the Search domain restriction is not relevant.

  15. Click OK.