Associating a Finite Element Model with a Simulation

You can associate a finite element model (FEM) representation with a simulation. You can associate a predefined FEM representation, or you can create a FEM representation to then associate with your simulation. If you create a FEM representation, you can use a regular mesh or a voxel mesh.

This task shows you how to:

See Also
About Finite Element Model Representations

Associate a Predefined FEM with a Simulation

  1. From the Setup section of the action bar, click Finite Element Model .
  2. From the Model options, select Select to display a list of predefined FEM representations.
  3. Optional: Select Preview the highlighted model to see the FEM representation that you select highlighted in the 3D area.
  4. Select a FEM representation from the list.
    A green check mark appears next to the name of the selected FEM representation.

    If you selected Preview the highlighted model, the app highlights the FEM representation in the 3D area.

  5. Click OK.

Create a FEM to Associate with a Simulation using Standard Mesh Types

  1. From the Setup section of the action bar, click Finite Element Model .
  2. From the Model options, select Create.
  3. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  4. Select No initialization to create the FEM representation without performing the meshing process.

    The app includes only those parts that contribute to the simulation.

  5. Select the objects you want to mesh as the support.

    The objects can include the product and the build tray.

  6. From the Mesh type options, select Regular mesh.
    This option creates a tetrahedral mesh for the printed parts, a surface quad mesh for the surface supports, and a sweep 3D mesh for the build tray, if included. For wired supports, the app meshes the real geometry.
  7. From the Product section, enter a value for the Mesh size, which is the approximate size of each element in the mesh used for the printed parts.
  8. From the Support section, do the following:
    1. Enter a value for the Mesh size, which is the approximate size of each element in the mesh used for the supports.
    2. Optional: Enter a value for the Thickness, which is the thickness of the shell elements used for the wired supports.

      If all supports share the same thickness value, the field displays this value as the default value. If the supports have different thicknesses, the field displays From Delmia. You can enter a value in this field to override the thicknesses of all wired supports.

  9. From the Build Tray section, enter a value for the Mesh size, which is the approximate size of each element in the mesh used for the build tray.

    If you click , the field displays Do not mesh, which means that the app does not mesh the build tray with the product and support.

  10. Optional: Select Run model check to verify that you properly defined your model before initializing the FEM.
  11. Click OK.

Create a Voxel Mesh FEM to Associate with a Simulation

  1. From the Setup section of the action bar, click Finite Element Model .
  2. From the Model options, select Create.
  3. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  4. Select No initialization to create the FEM representation without performing the meshing process.

    The app includes only those parts that contribute to the simulation.

  5. Select the objects you want to mesh as the support.

    The objects can include the product and the build tray.

  6. From the Mesh type options, select Voxel mesh.

    For more information about voxel meshes, see About Voxel Meshes.

  7. From the Voxel mesh type options, select one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Isotropic Element dimensions are uniform in all directions. You specify the mesh size of one dimension.
    Anisotropic Element dimensions are nonuniform. You specify the mesh size in the X, Y, and Z directions.
  8. Optional: Enter a value for the Thickness, which is the thickness of the hexahedron elements used for the wired supports.

    If all supports share the same thickness value, the field displays this value as the default value. If the supports have different thicknesses, the field displays From Delmia. You can enter a value in this field to override the thicknesses of all wired supports.

    The thickness value allows the voxel mesher to determine what percentage of each element is filled by the meshed geometry, which scales the stiffness, thermal conductivity, and mass of the elements for the solve.

  9. Select Include build tray to mesh the build tray.
  10. Optional: Select Run model check to verify that you properly defined your model before initializing the FEM.
  11. Click OK.