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TheoryandMechanicaModelTopicsUnderstandingAutoGEMControlsLecture

Understanding_AutoGEM_Controls.mp3

Understanding AutoGEM Controls

Controls can be used to affect the default behavior of AutoGEM.

Before AutoGEM controls After AutoGEM controls

LectureNotesAutoGEM controls

AutoGEM controls enable you to exert additional influence beyond the softwaredefaults. Specific controls include:

Edge Distribution: Specifies the number of nodes and placements along curvesor surface edges.

Minimum Edge Length: Ignores edges and datum curves with lengths smallerthan or equal to a specified length.

Isolate for Exclusion: Enables manual exclusion or automatic detection andisolation of singularities in a model. Elements that are excluded are ignored forthe purposes of calculating convergence and measures.

Maximum Element Size: Controls the maximum size of the elements created bythe mesh generator.

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Edge Length by Curvature: Creates relatively smaller elements adjacent tocurved surfaces.

Hard Points: Enables selection of points on the model to guide the meshcreation process. AutoGEM creates an element node at each of the selectedpoints.

Hard Curves: Enables selection of datum curves on the model to guide the meshcreation process. AutoGEM creates element edges along each of the selectedcurves.

In the figure shown, AutoGEM controls have been used to increase the total element

count in strategic areas, as well as to exclude some elements considered unimportant

for analysis convergence. This was done using Maximum Element Size for the entire

component, Edge Length by Curvature for the hole, and Isolate for Exclusion on a

Volume Region at the bottom of the model. The excluded elements are shown in red.

UnderstandingAutoGEMControlsDemonstrationUnderstanding_AutoGEM_Controls_demo.mp4

UnderstandingAutoGEMControlsProcedureProcedure: Understanding AutoGEM Controls

ScenarioCreate various different AutoGEM controls.

AutoGEM_Controls plate_w_hole.prt

Task 1. Create a Maximum Element Size Mesh control.

1. Click Applications > Mechanica.

2. Click Control from the Mechanica toolbar to activate the AutoGEM Control dialogbox.

3. Verify that the Type field is set to Maximum Element Size. Select Componentsfrom the References drop-down menu.

4. Type 30 in the Element Size field and click OK to complete the AutoGEM control

definition.

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Task 2. Create an Edge Length by Curvature control.

1. Click Control to activate the AutoGEM Control dialog box.

2. From the Type drop-down menu, select Edge Length by Curvature. Select

Surfaces from the References drop-down menu and select the cylindrical surfaceinside the hole as shown.

3. Type 1 in the Edge Length / Radius of Curvature ratio field and click OK to completethe AutoGEM control definition.

Task 3. Create an Isolate for Exclusion Mesh control.

1. Click Control to activate the AutoGEM Control dialog box.

2. From the Type drop-down menu, select Isolate for Exclusion and select the

volume region as shown.

3. Click OK to complete the AutoGEM control definition.

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Task 4. Create an Edge Distribution Mesh control, save the model, and erase it frommemory.

1. Click Control to activate the AutoGEM Control dialog box.

2. From the Type drop-down menu, select Edge Distribution and select the edge as

shown.

3. Type 10 in the Number of Nodes field and click OK to complete the AutoGEMcontrol definition.

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4. Return to the Standard Pro/ENGINEER mode by clicking Applications > Standard.

5. Click Save from the main toolbar and click OK to save the model.

6. Click File > Erase > Current > Yes to erase the model from memory.

This completes the procedure.