Tetrahedral Mesh Inflation Ansys Meshing

Chapter 5
Tetrahedral Mesh
with Inflation
ANSYS Meshing
Application Introduction
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. 5-1 Inventory #002645
Tetrahedral Mesh with Inflation
Overview Training Manual
• Tetrahedral Meshing Algorithms

• Inflation Options for Patch Conforming
– Algorithms
– Pre and Post
– Advanced Options
– Collision Avoidance
• Patch Independent Meshing
– Defeaturing
– Proximity refinement
– Curvature refinement
• Workshop 5.1 Tetrahedral Mesh with Inflation for a Tee Mixer
(Patch Conforming)
• Workshop 5.2 Fluid and Structural Meshes for an Auto Manifold
(Patch Independent)

Tetrahedral Meshing Algorithms Training Manual
• Patch Conforming
– All faces and edges are respected by default (although this can be
changed with pinch controls and virtual topology and there is default
defeaturing based on the minimum size limit)
– For moderately clean CAD (i.e. native CAD, Parasolid, ACIS, Etc.)
– Possible to combine with sweeps in a multibody-part to generate conformal
hybrid tet/prism and hex meshes
– Works with advanced size functions
– Surface mesh Volume mesh
• Patch Independent
– Useful for CAD with sliver faces, many surface patches, short edges, etc.
– Built in defeaturing/simplification based on meshing technology
– Based on ICEM CFD Tetra/Prism Octree method
– Volume mesh Surface mesh

Inflation for Patch Conforming Tetrahedrons Training Manual
• Basic settings include Inflation Option as well as Pre and Post Inflation
Algorithms

Inlation Option – Smooth Transition Training Manual
• Smooth Transition (Default)

– Uses the local tetrahedral element size to compute each local initial height and
total height so that the rate of volume change is smooth. Each triangle that is
being inflated will have an initial height that is computed with respect to its area,
averaged at the nodes. This means that for a uniform mesh, the initial heights will
be roughly the same, while for a varying mesh, the initial heights will vary.
– Transition Ratio
• Volume-based size change between the last layer of elements in the inflation layer and
the first elements in the tetrahedron region.
• When the Solver is set to CFX, the default for Transition Ratio is 0.77. For all other
physics preferences, including CFD when Solver Preference is set to Fluent, the
default is 0.272.
• The difference in treatment arises because the Fluent solver is cell-centered so that
the mesh element is equal to the solver element, while the CFX solver is vertex-
centered with the solver element constructed from the mesh duals about a node.

Inflation Option – Thickness Options Training Manual
• Total Thickness
– Creates constant inflation layers using the values of the Number of Layers and
Growth Rate controls to obtain a total thickness as defined by the value of the
Maximum Thickness control. Unlike inflation with the Smooth Transition
option, with the Total Thickness option the thickness of the first inflation layer
and each following layer is constant
• First Layer Thickness
– creates constant inflation layers using the values of the First Layer Height,
Maximum Layers, and Growth Rate controls to generate the inflation mesh.
Unlike inflation with the Smooth Transition option, with the First Layer
Thickness option the thickness of the first inflation layer and each following layer
is constant.

Inflation Algorithms Training Manual
• Pre
– TGrid algorithm
– Default setting for all physics type. The surface mesh will be inflated
first, and then the rest of the volume mesh will be generated.
– Does not support different number of layers on adjacent faces.
– Also applicable to Sweep and 2D meshing.
• Post
– ICEM CFD algorithm
– A post processing technique that works after the tetrahedral mesh is
generated is used. Valid only for patching conforming and patch independent
tetrahedrons.

Advanced Inflation Options Training Manual
• Visible if View Advanced Options under

the Global Inflation Options under Mesh
is set to Yes
– Collison Avoidance
• Layer Compression (Default for Fluent)
• Stair Stepping (Default for CFX)
– Growth Rate Type
– Maximum Angle
– Fillet Ratio
– Use Post Smoothing
– Smoothing Iterations

Collision Avoidance Training Manual
• Layer Compression
– If advancing inflated fronts from different
faces are about to collide, the inflation
layers are compressed in order to leave
enough room for a layer of tets
– If layer compression cannot resolve
collision, layers may be removed as in
stair stepping described below. A
warning message may be generated and
the quality of the mesh may be impacted,
which is of special concern for FLUENT
users
• Stair Stepping
– Inflation layers are “peeled off” to
prevent collision of advancing fronts in
order to leave enough room for a layer
of tets
Inflation: Compression vs. Stair-stepping Training Manual
Layer Compression: Stair-stepping:

Patch Independent Tetrahedrons Training Manual
• The Patch Independent Tetrahedral

methods has controls similar to the
Advanced Size Function for
Curvature and Proximity as well as
an explicit tolerance for defeaturing
geometry.
• Remember that the volume mesh is

created first and then projected to
vertices, edges, and faces to create
the surface mesh. You can always
force faces, edges, or points to be
respected by creating named
selections or by setting Define
Defeaturing Tolerance to No

Defeaturing Tolerance Training Manual
• “Filters” in/out edges based on size and angle. If set to

Yes, a Define Defeaturing Tolerance field appears
where you enter a numerical value. There are several
basic cases, including the following:
– Two approximately parallel spaced edges (fillet or
chamfer) closer than the tolerance, as shown in Fig. 1
• If the face (fillet or chamfer) between spans by more than 15
degrees, one edge is kept and the other is dropped. Nodes
will only line up along one edge. If the face between spans by
less than 15 degrees, both edges may be dropped and patch Fig. 1
independent mesh will walk over this feature without capturing
it explicitly.
• If the tolerance is less than the fillet/chamfer size, and the
deflection is greater than 15 degrees, both edges are kept.
– A small hole with a diameter smaller than the tolerance as
shown in Fig. 2.
• No edges are dropped. You should defeature manually in this
case.
Fig. 2
Examples of Defeaturing Training Manual
Geometry No Defeaturing Defeaturing Tolerance of 1

Proximity Refinement – Cells in Gap Training Manual
• Num Cells Across Gap

– (displayed only when Curvature and Proximity Refinement is set to Yes).
This is the number of cells desired in narrow gaps. This sets the goal for the
proximity based refinement. The mesh will subdivide in tight regions toward
this goal, but the refinement is limited by the Min Size Limit is reached. It will
not override this limit. The default is 1.

Curvature Refinement – Span Angle Training Manual
• Span Angle
– (displayed only when Curvature and
Proximity Refinement is set to Yes). Sets
the goal for the curvature based refinement.
Similar to setting for the Advanced Size
Function This refinement is also limited by
the Min Size Limit. The following choices
are available:
• Coarse – 91 degrees to 60 degrees
• Medium – 75 degrees to 24 degrees
• Fine – 36 degrees to 18 degrees

Inflation for Patch Independent Tetrahedrons Training Manual
• Settings similar to those for Patch Conforming, but only Post algorithm
since the surface mesh does not exist before the volume mesh is created.

Workshop 5.1
for a Tee Mixer

Goals Training Manual
This workshop demonstrates the creation of a mesh for the fluid portion of
a mixing tee using the patch conforming tetrahedral mesher with an inflation
layer to resolve the wall boundary layer. This mesh will be used later in the
course to set up a CFD simulation so the workshop also demonstrates
how to export a mesh database for future analysis.

Importing Geometry Training Manual
1. Start Workbench and

select the Import option in
the menu bar and change
the filter to Geometry File.
2. Specify the mixer-tee.agdb
file from the Tutorials
folder and note that an
entry appears in the
Project Schematic with a
green check mark.
3. Expand the Component
Systems entry at the left
and drag Meshing onto the
DM instance in the project
schematic. Note the
linkage that appears.
Supressing Solid Parts and Setting the Method Training Manual
4. Double click the Mesh entry in System B

on the Project Schematic to open up
ANSYS Meshing.
5. Note that there are 5 parts and 5 solid
bodies. The four Solid entries comprise
the solid portion of the mixing tee while the
body named Fluid is the fluid region
6. Since we will focus first on the fluid region,
right-click and suppress the four solid
bodies under geometry in the Outline
7. Right-click on Mesh and select Insert
Method. Select the fluid body and set the
Method to Tetrahedrons and the Algorithm
to Patch Conforming

Physics Preference Training Manual
8. Set the Physics Preference to CFD and the

Solver Preference to Fluent
9. Expand the Sizing entry and set the Max
Face Size to 0.015 [m] and the Max Tet
Size to 0.03 [m].
10. Expand the Inflation entry and set Use
Automatic Tet Inflation to None. This
means that you will need to define inflation
layers manually

Previewing the Surface Mesh Training Manual
11. Right click on Mesh and select Preview Surface Mesh. The mesh resolution of the
surfaces appears to be reasonable

Inflating the Method Training Manual
12. Right click on the Patch Conforming Method

and choose Inflate this Method
13. Pick the five side surfaces of the model
as shown below and set the Inflation Option to
First Layer Thickness and enter a value of
0.001 m. Set the Maximum Layers to 5.

Generating the Inflated Mesh Training Manual
14. Right click on the mesh and choose

Generate Mesh to create the inflated volume
mesh.

Skewness Mesh Metric Training Manual
15. Expand the Statistics Entry and set the Mesh Metrics Option to Skewness. The
maximum value of 0.742 is suitable for the Fluent Solver

Unsuppressing the Solids Training Manual
16. Select the four solid parts under geometry in

the project outline and right-click to unsuppress
them. You might want to mesh the solids for a
conjugate heat transfer calculation in either
CFX or FLUENT or perhaps for a one-way
FSI calculation.

Mesh Method for the Solid Parts Training Manual
17. Insert a Patch Conforming Tetrahedral Method and assign it to the four solid parts

Body Sizing for the Solid Parts Training Manual
18. Right-click on Mesh in the Outline and

insert a Sizing. Select the 4 solid
bodies in the Model View (set the
selection filter to bodies if needed) and
apply the selection to the geometry.
Enter a sizing of 0.04 [m].

Combined Mesh for Fluid and Solid Parts Training Manual
19. Regenerate the mesh. Note the new mesh count and quality metric

Named Selections for CFD Training Manual
20. You will use the fluid portion of the mesh

to set up a CFD tutorial later. Since the
solid bodies are not needed for this,
suppress the four solid bodies again.
21. To help prepare the mesh for CFD, you
will create named selections for the 3 end
faces. To create a named selection, set
the selection filter to Faces, pick a face in
the Model View, right-click and choose
Create Named Selection. Do this for the
low-y face in the model using inlet-y as
the Name for the Selection.

Preparing the Mesh for CFD Training Manual
22. Repeat this for the high-Z face (inlet-z) and the high-Y face (outlet)

Exporting the Mesh File Training Manual
22. While still in ANSYS Meshing, click on

File/Export and save the file as a meshdat
file. Note the location as you will import this
file later in the course when setting up a fluid
flow simulation using the fluid mesh.
23. Save the Project and exit Workbench.

Workshop 5.2
Fluid and Structural Meshes
for an Auto Manifold

Goals Training Manual
This workshop demonstrates the creation of a mesh suitable for a conjugate

heat transfer (CHT) flow simulation, or a fluid-structure interaction (FSI)
simulation. However, the geometry presents potential difficulties.
• The geometry contains two bodies. One
represents a solid manifold and the other
the fluid region.
• The mesh in the fluid body will be of CFD
quality, with inflation, whilst the solid mesh
will be of structural quality.
• The Patch Independent mesh method is
used to avoid problems arising from the
nature of the CAD (see later).
• This same geometry will later be meshed
using with the Patch Conforming Method
with Virtual Topology in Workshop A.1.

Open Workbench Training Manual
1. Launch ANSYS 12.0 Workbench (WB) from the START menu

2. Click on Component Systems in the Toolbox on the LHS of the WB
main panel
3. Double click the Mesh option

Geometry Import Training Manual
4. Right click on the Geometry button in the RHS of the WB panel and
select Import geometry.
5. Import the Auto-manifold.agdb file

6. Double click on the Mesh button (in cell A3) to launch the Meshing
Application

Geometry Review Training Manual
7. The geometry was created by importing an IGES file for the manifold into
DesignModeler and extracting the fluid region.
• On the right-hand-side of the screen, Select ‘Mechanical’ for the Physics
• Select ‘Automatic’ for the Meshing Method, then ‘OK’ that window.
• The units of the geometry should be set to mm.
8. Named Selections were
created in DesignModeler.
Expand the Named
Selections object and click
on each to see where they
have been applied.
• If you cannot see the
Named Selections in
the Meshing
Application, see next
slide.

Named Selections Training Manual
• If the Named Selections don’t appear in the Meshing Application, it is probably

because the option to bring them in is switched off.
• Activate the option by right clicking on the Geometry button on the Project Page,
and then select Properties.
• Ensure Named Selections is checked, and the Selection Key is blank.
• Right-Click on Geometry and select “Update”
• Right-Click on Mesh and select “Refresh”

Problem Geometry Training Manual
• The geometry includes many faces of various sizes and shapes and this
would lead to problems for Patch Conforming methods. Virtual Topology
could be an option to address this, but instead a Patch Independent
approach will be used.
Short edge
Narrow
sliver faces
cusps
Surface Meshes Training Manual
• Patch Conforming Method

• Short edges – unwanted
refinement refinement and too many
elements.
• Cusps and narrow faces –
poor quality elements with
small angles small angles.
• Patch Independent Method

• Mesh not constrained by
geometry.
• Coarser mesh possible.
• Elements are more regular
in size and shape.

Inserting the Mesh Method Training Manual
9. Left click on Mesh in the tree and check its details

• Make sure the Physics preference is set to Mechanical
Cursor Modes
– This ensures that the solid body will have a mesh suitable for
structural mechanics
10. Assign the Meshing method:
• Set the Cursor Mode to Body
• RMB (Window) select Select All
• RMB select Insert -> Method
– Depending on your Workbench settings,
sometimes a default Mesh Method is
already created for you. You can either
delete it and create the new one, or
modify its details as follows.
11. Set Details of Method
• Set the Method to Tetrahedrons
• Set Algorithm to Patch Independent
• Set Max Element Size to 6 mm
• Set Min Size Limit to 2 mm
Setting Element Size for Fluid Region Training Manual
12. Body Sizing

• Maintain the Cursor Mode of Body Selection
• Select the Fluid body
• RMB (Window) select Insert -> Sizing
13. Set Details of Body Sizing
• Set Element Size to 5 mm

Adding a Boundary Layer Mesh to the Fluid Training Manual
19. Insert Inflation

• Maintain the Cursor Mode of Body Selection
• Select the Solid Body
• RMB (Window) select Suppress Body
• RMB (Window) select Select All
• RMB (Window) select Insert Inflation
20. Set Details of Inflation
• Set the Cursor Mode to Face selection
• To select Inflation on all wall surfaces:
– Pick one face
– Drop down the Extend
menu and Extend to Limits
– Apply selection
• 126 Faces
• Change Inflation Option
– Total Thickness
• Set Maximum Thickness to 5 mm
Volume Mesh Generation Training Manual
21. Mesh the Bodies

• Set the Cursor Mode to Body selection
• RMB (in Window) select Unsuppress all Bodies
• RMB (in Tree) select Generate Mesh
• In Statistics set Mesh Metrics to Skewness
– Around 150 000 elements were created with a worst
skewness of about 0.9

Review Volume Mesh Training Manual
22. Review the Mesh

• Examine the surface mesh of the fluid region to see that it does not conform
to the underlying surface topology
– You can Hide the solid mesh region to make this easier by right clicking on it in
the geometry part of the Tree
• Try using a Section Plane ( ) to look at the interior of the mesh

Conclusion Training Manual
23. The mesh is now complete
• RMB (Tree) select Update

– This ensures everything in the project so far is up to date
• Select File > Close Mesh to close the Mesh application
• In the WB panel select File > Save Project As… and give the project a name
• Exit from ANSYS Workbench by selecting File > Exit
• Note: Because the Mechanical mesh preference was used, the mesh
elements will contain midside nodes. This is a benefit for mechanical analysis
which can use higher order tetrahedral elements. If the mesh is then used for
CFD, these midside nodes will be automatically ignored.


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Chapter 5

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Overview Training Manual

• Tetrahedral Meshing Algorithms

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Tetrahedral Meshing Algorithms Training Manual

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Inflation for Patch Conforming Tetrahedrons Training Manual

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Inlation Option – Smooth Transition Training Manual

• Smooth Transition (Default)

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Inflation Option – Thickness Options Training Manual

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Inflation Algorithms Training Manual

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Advanced Inflation Options Training Manual

• Visible if View Advanced Options under

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Collision Avoidance Training Manual

Inflation: Compression vs. Stair-stepping Training Manual

Layer Compression: Stair-stepping:

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Patch Independent Tetrahedrons Training Manual

• The Patch Independent Tetrahedral

• Remember that the volume mesh is

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Defeaturing Tolerance Training Manual

• “Filters” in/out edges based on size and angle. If set to

Examples of Defeaturing Training Manual

Geometry No Defeaturing Defeaturing Tolerance of 1

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Proximity Refinement – Cells in Gap Training Manual

• Num Cells Across Gap

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Curvature Refinement – Span Angle Training Manual

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Inflation for Patch Independent Tetrahedrons Training Manual

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Goals Training Manual

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Importing Geometry Training Manual

1. Start Workbench and

Supressing Solid Parts and Setting the Method Training Manual

4. Double click the Mesh entry in System B

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Physics Preference Training Manual

8. Set the Physics Preference to CFD and the

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Previewing the Surface Mesh Training Manual

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Inflating the Method Training Manual

12. Right click on the Patch Conforming Method

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Generating the Inflated Mesh Training Manual

14. Right click on the mesh and choose

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary April 28, 2009

Skewness Mesh Metric Training Manual