Distributing Nodes on an Edge

You can impose nodes by distributing them on a free or constrained edge.

The following methods are available for distributing nodes:

  • Uniform: Distributes nodes on the selected edge with the same distance between nodes.
  • Arithmetic: Distributes nodes on the selected edge with a distance between nodes defined by a common difference computed with parameters.
  • Geometric: Distributes nodes on the selected edge with a distance between nodes defined by a common ratio computed with parameters.
  • User law: Distributes nodes on the selected edge with a distance between nodes defined by a knowledge law previously defined in the Knowledge Advisor app.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Open the Surface Mesher.
See Also
Creating and Editing Surface Meshes
About Node Distributions
About Mesh Context Toolbars

Distribute Nodes on an Edge Uniformly

  1. From the Mesh Specifications section of the action bar, click Edge Distribution .

    Tip: You can select one or more edges to apply the same distribution to each one. You can also select a set of continuous edges and choose Connected Edges Distribution from the context toolbar to divide the distribution across the selected edges.

    The Edge Distribution dialog box appears.
  2. Select the edge on which you want to impose nodes.

    You can select several edges in the Edge Distribution dialog box only if they are continuous to each other.

  3. From the Type list, select Uniform.
  4. If you want to define a uniform node distribution based on a number of edges, do the following:
    1. From the Defined by list, select Number of Edges.
    2. Enter the Number of edges.
  5. If you want to define a uniform node distribution by specifying a mesh size, do the following:
    1. From the Defined by list, select Size.
    2. Enter the mesh Size on the selected edge.
  6. Click OK.

Distribute Nodes on an Edge Arithmetically or Geometrically

  1. From the Mesh Specifications section of the action bar, click Edge Distribution .

    Tip: You can select one or more edges to apply the same distribution to each one. You can also select a set of continuous edges and choose Connected Edges Distribution from the context toolbar to divide the distribution across the selected edges.

    The Edge Distribution dialog box appears.
  2. Select the edge on which you want to impose nodes.

    You can select several edges in the Edge Distribution dialog box only if they are continuous to each other.

  3. From the Type list, select Arithmetic or Geometric.
  4. From the Defined by list, select one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Number of edges - size ratio Imposes a specific number of elements along the selected edge and defines a size ratio between the size of the edges at each end of the distribution.
    Number of edges - size at one end Imposes a specific number of elements along the selected edge and specifies the element size at one end.
    Size ratio - size at one end Imposes a ratio between the size of the elements on each side of the distribution and defines the size at one end of the distribution.
    Size at two ends Imposes the size of the edges directly at each end of the distribution.
  5. Specify additional edge distribution behavior from one or more of the following fields:
    OptionDescription
    Number of edges Number of elements along the selected edge.
    Size ratio Ratio between the size of the last and first edges in the distribution.
    Size at one end Size of the first edge in the distribution.
    Size at other end Size of the last edge in the distribution.
  6. Select Symmetric to distribute nodes symmetrically.
  7. Select Reverse direction to reverse the direction of the distribution.
  8. Click OK.

Distribute Nodes on an Edge Using a User Law

  1. From the Mesh Specifications section of the action bar, click Edge Distribution .

    Tip: You can select one or more edges to apply the same distribution to each one. You can also select a set of continuous edges and choose Connected Edges Distribution from the context toolbar to divide the distribution across the selected edges.

    The Edge Distribution dialog box appears.
  2. Select the edge on which you want to impose nodes.

    You can select several edges in the Edge Distribution dialog box only if they are continuous to each other.

  3. From the Type list, select User law.
  4. Specify the Number of edges to impose a specific number of elements along the selected edge.
  5. Specify the knowledge Law that you want to use to distribute nodes.
  6. Select Reverse direction to reverse the direction of the distribution.
  7. Click OK.