Direct Meshing with Node Locations Without Forming Surfaces

Altair Forum User

Hi,

 

I am trying to enable a 3D large deformation finite element simulation with the help of re-zoning method. After each small incremental displacement FE step (in ABAQUS), I need to rezone the mesh in order to eliminate any created element distortions. Currently, the simplest concept I can think of is to keep the element node fixed while changing the connectivity information to form a better mesh.

 

I understand hypermesh has this pointcloud meshing function (reverse engineering feature) in which surfaces are first constructed basing on the point information. Later, after a solid is built from the created surfaces, the model can be meshed.

However, for my case, I would like to skip this geometry forming process and to automatically generate a mesh directly from the node location I provide.  Would it be possible?

 

The general methodology should be:

(1) Import deformed node position and connectivity matrix from ABAQUS results

(2) Identify boundary nodes basing on the connectivity matrix (or maybe just simply record the boundary nodes in ABAQUS)

(3) Mesh the model with provided node location and element quality criteria -> forming new connectivity matrix with better element quality

(4) Export back to ABAQUS for next increment

 

Another question would be how to import meshes from ABAQUS (step (1) described above). I know it is possible to do the other way around -  hence step (4) with Hypermesh.

 

Any suggestion and advices? Ideally Hexahedral elements are desired but I guess tetrahedral elements are also fine with hourglass control applied.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Regards,

Wensong

Rahul_P1

Wensong,

 

If I understand the issue correctly, it is simply to reuse the deformed mesh from the results of an analysis for a subsequent analysis,

 

Would this help you?

• Post process your abaqus results in HyperView > export deformed shape from HyperVIew (file > export > deformed shape)

  Import this file into HyperMesh > preprocess , mesh etc > export to your solver. 

Altair Forum User

Altair Forum User said:

 

Wensong,

 

If I understand the issue correctly, it is simply to reuse the deformed mesh from the results of an analysis for a subsequent analysis,

 

Would this help you?

• Post process your abaqus results in HyperView > export deformed shape from HyperVIew (file > export > deformed shape)

  Import this file into HyperMesh > preprocess , mesh etc > export to your solver. 

 

Hi Rahul,

 

Thanks for replying.

 

I am now able to import the deformed mesh from ABAQUS to HM and plan to use the 'mesh smoothing' function to remove element distortions. Is there any documentation I can refer to to understand how this 'mesh smoothing' function works? I know there is a meshing option in the preference drop-down menu but it appears to me only one element size can be set. However, the mesh I am using has varying element sizes with the position.

 

The whole idea is to automate the whole process so 'mesh smoothing' appears to be a better option than improving elements quality manually.

 

Many thanks,

Wensong

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Rahul_P1

Wensong,

 

Are you using 2d elements? 

 

you can refer to tutorials on this in the help and also the academic training center >  preprocessing > element quality and checks > 2d element quality and checks - http://training.altairuniversity.com/modeling/element-quality/quality/