FEA meshing - why not 2d mesh -> 3d mesh ???

[Ziggi]

Well,

 

I have just realized why the people do not use FEA (finite elements analysis) as often as they should do: FEA preprocessing phase is a disaster!!! Simply speaking - there is no simple, efficient meshing software available on the market. Existing software like Hyper Mesh is just an interface catastrophe. Everything you hate in a computer software interface is existent there!

 

OK - being serious. The problem seems to start at the beginning. Engineering design applications are NURBS driven. They describe surface in a topology unaware manner. Then the project goes into FEA preprocessor where appropriate mesh topology is being created for further analysis.

 

Well - while contemporary FEA preprocessors are powerful in terms of handling various mesh types, they are extremely poor modelling tools compared to professional modelling tools like 3DS Max or Maya.

 

Simply speaking - any 3D artists is able to deliver a model with nice surface mesh topology: definitely this model will be better than result of automatic meshing by FEA preprocessors or even better than human-optimized meshes delivered by inexperienced FEM engineer! The only problem is... how to proceed from surface (2d) mesh to volume (3d) mesh keeping surface topology of the input geometry?

 

Or rather - the real issue is that I never heard about a FEA preprocessor accepting surface mesh data as input geometry. Why??? There are efficient algorithms generating volumetric 3d mesh from 2d surface mesh (volume tessellation) but FEA preprocessrs do not implement them. Why???

 

Would you be so kind to explain why such a streamline is non-existent in practice?:

 

1) Model construction in 3DS Max or similar application as surface mesh (triangular, tetra or even hexa is possible). Basic topology optimization is achieved already during modelling phase.

 

2) Convert surface mesh model into volume mesh model preserving imported surface topology.

 

3) Import generated 3D mesh into FEA preprocessor and apply materials, loads, constraints.

 

4) Export to solver.

 

The reason for the question is simple: an hour of 3D modeler (an "artist") work is much cheaper than an hour of FEA engineer while 60% of FEA engineer workload is... meshing !!!

 

Would you be so pleased, to comment???

[DANIEL]

the simple awnser from my perspective is that no one has taken the time to develop such code, most likely due to the division between drafters and engineers and there respective lacking in knowledge of the others discipline.

[JD Mather]

Why is this post in an AutoCAD forum?

How much experience do you have with

various FEA programs (list program names and length of experience with each)?

[Ziggi]

How much experience do you have with

various FEA programs (list program names and length of experience with each)?

 

Sorry - I am not on the position to answer questions asked in such an offensive manner.

If you complain on your car, I do not ask you to list all models you drove in your life.