Creating Meshes using Basic Transformations

You can create a 1D, 2D or 3D mesh from an existing 1D, 2D or 3D mesh using a basic transformation. Three basic transformations are available: translation, rotation and symmetry. You can then generate meshes without geometric support.

Before you begin: A finite element model representation that contains an updated mesh must exist.
Related Topics
Accessing the Finite Element Modeling Workbench
Inserting Finite Element Model Representations
Meshing Geometries
Updating Meshes

  1. In the Transformation Meshes toolbar, click one of the following:

    • Translation Mesh to create a mesh from an existing one using a translation.
    • Rotation Mesh to create a mesh from an existing one using a rotation.
    • Symmetry Mesh to create a mesh from an existing one using a symmetry.

    The corresponding dialog box appears.

  2. Select one or several existing meshes.

  3. Define the transformation parameters.

    • If you selected the translation transformation, you have to specify the direction, the distance and the orientation of the translation. Click the Direction box to activate it, and select the direction. In the Distance box, enter a value. This value specifies the distance and the orientation of the translation.
    • If you selected the rotation transformation, you have to specify the axis and the angle of rotation. Click the Axis box to activate it, and select the rotation axis. In the Angle box, enter an angle value for the rotation.
    • If you selected the symmetry transformation, you have to specify the symmetry plane.

  4. Optional: To condense the nodes, select the Automatic mesh capture check box.

    1. In the Tolerance box, enter a tolerance value.
    2. To initialize automatically the tolerance value, click Initialize.

  5. Optional: In the Number of copies box, enter the number of transformed meshes you want to create.

  6. Click one of the following:

    • Cancel to cancel the modifications and close the dialog box.
    • Apply to save the parameters you defined and to create, update, and generate the mesh.

      The PLM Update progress bar appears. You can interrupt the update. See Updating Meshes.

      The dialog box remains open to continue modifying parameters if necessary.

    • OK to save the parameters you defined, to create the mesh, and to close the dialog box. To generate and visualize the mesh, you have to update it. See Updating Meshes.

    If you click Apply or OK, the transformed mesh is created and appears in the specification tree.