3. Mesh the Object

Meshing the part means breaking the part into smaller pieces (elements) so that the program can analyze the loadings (stresses, temperatures, velocities, etc.) within the part. Breaking the part into many, small pieces (a fine mesh) will generally give more accurate results, but will use up more time and memory. Using fewer, larger pieces (a coarse mesh) will allow the model to run more quickly and use less memory, but will give less accurate results. In general it is good to start out with a coarse mesh and keep refining it in order to get the desired amount of accuracy.

We want to mesh the member into 6 elements. Thus, we choose an element of size 2x4. So, we have to mesh the lines parallel to the Y-axis into 6 segments and the lines parallel to the X-axis into 1 segment.

MAIN MENU -> Preprocessor

      PREPROCESSOR -> -Meshing -Size Contrls

            SIZE CNTRLS -> Manual Size
                        
                   MANUAL SIZE -> Line -Picked Lines

                   ELEMENT SIZE ON PICKED LINES -> Click on the top and bottom lines of the beam.

                   ELEMENT SIZE ON PICKED LINES -> Click OK.

                   ELEMENT SIZE ON PICKED LINES -> Enter 6 in the NDIV box, then click OK.

            SIZE CNTRLS -> Manual Size
                        
                   MANUAL SIZE -> Line -Picked Lines

                   ELEMENT SIZE ON PICKED LINES -> Click on the two vertical segments of the beam.

                   ELEMENT SIZE ON PICKED LINES -> Click OK.

                   ELEMENT SIZE ON PICKED LINES -> Change 6 to a 1 in the NDIV box, then click OK.

You are now ready to mesh the beam. You can see from figure below that the lines are meshed into the desired segments, the letter "M" indicates that the lines have been meshed.



MAIN MENU -> Preprocessor

      PREPROCESSOR -> -Meshing -Mesh

             MESH -> -Area -Mapped

                  MAPPED -> 3 or 4 Sided

                  MESH AREAS -> Click on the beam. It will change color. Click OK.

                  MESH AREAS -> Click APPLY.

                  MESH AREAS -> Click OK.

Wait for the program to mesh the part - this may take several seconds. The part will now appear broken down into a six element mesh, with six elements along the length of the beam and one element through the thickness.





Close the MESH window.