Refine
Use the Refine tool to refine finite element mesh around specific objects or selections. Structural object must have a mesh before it can be refined.
When you select the Refine tool from the panel, a new tool palette opens.
| Tools on the tool palette | |
|---|---|
 | Use Mark element mode tool to mark finite element(s) that should be refined. |
 | Use Unmark element mode tool to unmark (remove from marked list) finite element(s) that should not be refined. |
 | Use Pick element function to manually select finite elements that should be marked or unmarked for refinement. |
 | Use Pick object function to select structural object(s) or parts of these objects (like edges) and use the filters with checkboxes below to automatically mark or unmark all finite element(s) that satisfy the filter conditions near the selected objects. |
 | This tool has four uses: 1) Mark all elements - when Mark element mode tool is selected and Pick element function is selected, use this tool to automatically mark all finite elements on every structural object in the entire model. 2) Unmark all elements - when Unmark element mode tool is selected and Pick element function is selected, use this tool to automatically unmark all finite elements on every structural object in the entire model. 3) Mark elements around all objects - when Mark element mode tool is selected and Pick object function is selected, use this tool to automatically mark all finite element(s) that satisfy the filter conditions near every structural object in the entire model. 4) Unmark elements around all objects - when Unmark element mode tool is selected and Pick object function is selected, use this tool to automatically unmark all finite element(s) that satisfy the filter conditions near every structural object in the entire model. |
 | Use Execute refine on marked elements function refine the finite element mesh on finite elements that are marked with the previous functions. |
Filters
When Pick object function is selected, you can select with checkboxes which filter you want to activate. Each filter allows marking or unmarking of finite elements near other objects.
Mark or unmark finite elements:
- Peak smoothing - near and inside Peak smoothing areas
- Beam - around Beam endpoints and next to the Beam along the length
- Column - around Column endpoints and next to the Column along the length
- Truss - around Truss element endpoints
- Fictitious bar - around Fictitious bar endpoints and next to the bar along the length
- Free edge - next to the free edge of a shell
- Region border - next to shell region borders, where multiple shells meet (except free edges)
- Point support - around Point support points
- Line support - next to Line support along the length
- Surface supp. edge - next to the edge of a Surface support
- Edge connection - next to the Edge connection
- Point connection - around Point connection connection points (both master point and other point)
- Line connection - next to Line connection connection lines along the length (both master line and slave line)
- Surface conn. edge - next to Surface connection edge along the length
- Point load - around Point load
- Line load - next to Line load along the length
- Surface load edge - next to Surface load edge along the length
- Fixed point - around fixed finite element points (added with Fixed point tool)
- Fixed line - around fixed finite element lines (added with Fixed line tool)
caution
Refine tool will generate new mesh even for objects that already have mesh. Be careful when you have manually prepared mesh on objects because this will be overwritten.