This chapter describes the techniques for mesh definition available internally in CivilFEM. Mesh definition is the process of converting a physical problem into discrete geometric entities for the purpose of analysis.
To build a mesh in CivilFEM user must carry out the geometric approach technique where the model is first generated using geometric entities followed by a conversion step in which these entities are converted to finite elements.
The process for generating a mesh of nodes and elements consists of three general steps:
Select the appropriate structural element.
Set mesh controls.
Meshing the model.
It is not always necessary to set mesh controls because the default mesh controls are appropriate for many models. If no controls are specified, the program will use the default settings to produce a free mesh.
In addition, this drop down will content some other aspects that will result very useful when the user try to execute a properly mesh.
In the measuring mesh quality section, some aspects about the element shape will be cleared in order that the user try to answer every question about using a triangular, quadrilateral, tetrahedral or hexahedral mesh.
In regard to the mesh algorithms chapter, some pieces of advices about what is the properly algorithm so as to use in your model, would be provided.
One of the most important targets in the modeling is executing a congruent mesh in face of obtaining the most accurate results for your model as being possible. In the congruent mesh section, it will be properly cleared.
