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FEM MeshShape

From FreeCAD Documentation

FEM MeshShape

Menu location
Mesh → GMSH Refinements → Shape-Based Refinement
Workbenches
FEM
Default shortcut
None
Introduced in version
1.2
See also
FEM tutorial

Solvers
All

Description[edit | edit source]

The FEM MeshShape command can be used to set mesh size within and outside of a geometric shape (box, sphere or cylinder).

Task panel of the MeshShape tool

Usage[edit | edit source]

  1. To enable the command a Mesh From Shape by Gmsh must be provided first.
  2. Select the Mesh object in the Tree View.
  3. There are several ways to invoke the command:
    • Press the Shape-Based Refinement button.
    • Select the Mesh → GMSH Refinements → Shape-Based Refinement option from the menu.
  4. Edit the size inside and outside of the shape as well as the thickness of the transition layer between the in/out mesh sizes (added outside of the shape).
  5. Select the shape from the drop-down list and adjust its location and size using the input fields or 3D View draggers:
    • Box - set the center coordinates, length, width and height
    • Sphere - set the center coordinates and radius
    • Cylinder - set the center coordinates, axis and radius
  6. Click the OK button.
  7. Close the task.
    Result: You now should see a new Shape object under the FEMMeshGmsh object in your active analysis container.
  8. Double-click on the FEMMeshGmsh parent object in your Model Tree and press Apply to force a mesh recalculation.
  9. Close the task.

After the mesh has been created you can change its properties using the Property View. After you changed a property, you must reopen the Gmsh dialog again and click the Apply button. (You can leave the dialog open while changing properties.)

You can create as many different shape-based refinements as needed.

Example of a shape-based mesh refinement using a sphere