Creating Octree Tetrahedron Meshes

You can create a 3D mesh using linear or quadratic tetrahedron elements.

Important: You cannot create an octree mesh for polyhedral geometry.

Before you begin: A finite element model representation must exist.
See Also
Updating Meshes
Mesh Parameters
  1. From the Mesh section of the action bar, click Octree Tetrahedron Mesh .
    The Octree Tetrahedron Mesh dialog box appears.
  2. Optional: Enter a Name for the mesh.
  3. In the tree or in the work area, select the 3D geometry to mesh.
  4. Choose the Element order.
    • Select to mesh the 3D geometry with linear tetrahedron elements.
    • Select to mesh the 3D geometry with quadratic tetrahedron elements.
  5. Specify the mesh size and mesh sag attributes.

    To initialize the Mesh size and Absolute sag values based on the overall support size, click Initialize from geometry.

    1. In the Mesh size box, enter a value for the element size.
    2. To specify a maximum gap between the mesh and the geometry, select Absolute sag, and enter a value.



  6. Optional: Click Edit all parameters to edit advanced parameters or to load parameters from a saved mesh rule.

    See Editing or Loading Octree Mesh Parameters.

  7. Optional: Add local specifications.

    See Adding Local Mesh Specifications.

  8. Click one of the following:
    • OK to save the parameters that you defined, to create the mesh, and to close the dialog box. To generate and visualize the mesh, you must update it.
    • Mesh to save the parameters you defined and to create, update, and generate the mesh.

      The PLM Update progress bar appears. The mesh dialog box remains open to allow further edits.

    • Cancel to cancel the modifications and to close the dialog box.
    If you click OK or Mesh, the mesh specification is created and appears in the tree.