About Node and Element Numbering

Node and element numbering enables you to assign ranges of numbers to nodes and elements in your mesh. By imposing a numbering scheme on the nodes and elements in your mesh, you can ensure that the mesh adheres to a set of numbering conventions for your organization.

You can specify numbering for nodes and elements in both standalone (or "Mesh of Assembly") meshes and in more complex ("Assembly of Meshes"–style) finite element models. However, the process for assigning numbering to their nodes and elements is different.

This page discusses:

Numbering for Mesh of Assembly FEM Representations

For mesh of assembly FEMs, you must first assign node and element numbers in the global mesh before you create any numbering assignments for a mesh part or group.

A top-down approach enables you to create the overall range of nodes and element numbers for the entire part first. When you then assign number ranges for smaller components like groups, the app validates that the numbering ranges for the group exist in the larger set for the global mesh.

Numbering for Assembly of Meshes FEM Representations

For assembly of meshes FEMs, you can either apply numbering to the individual meshes, or you can apply numbering settings in the Numbering Manager.

The app provides two methods you can use to assign numbering to nodes and elements in the mesh in an assembly of meshes FEM:

  • Assign numbering for the individual meshes first, then assign numbering to the top-level assembly FEM representation.
  • Assign numbering to the meshes or to the top-level assembly FEM representation in the Numbering Manager. You can access numbering for the meshes of individual meshes, and you can access the numbering for the top-level assembly FEM representation.

Note: You cannot apply global numbering to a top-level assembly FEM representation until you assign numbering for its individual meshes.

Additional Local Numbering and Visualization of Node and Element Numbers

After the initial assignment of numbering ranges, you can edit selected node and element numbers to apply local numbering. You can display the numbers in the 3D area.

The app automatically checks for duplications and conflicts every time you assign a numbering range, so you do not need to validate node and element numbers manually. You can, however, edit selected node and element numbers with local numbering.

You can also display the ID numbers for individual nodes and elements in the 3D area, and you can highlight nodes and elements corresponding to a set of ID numbers.

The app saves your numbering assignments as part of the simulation, and it retains them when you export the simulation or its results using the standard export options in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.