Mesh Cleanup on 2D Shell Elements using HyperMesh

Objective: To clean up the geometry and mesh three models.

Procedure:

1.Model 1 (Practice):

1. Geometry clean up:
   • The model was switched from \'auto\' mode to \'topo\' mode from the visualization toolbar for viewing the errors in geometry.
   • \'Filler surf\' command under \'quick edit\' was used to patch missing surfaces.
   • \'Trim with surfs\' command under \'surface edit\' was used to delete extra features.
   • \'Toggle edge\' and \'replace points\' command under \'quick edit\' was used to fill small gaps in geometry.
   • Overlapping surfaces (defined by yellow lines) were deleted.
   • \'Midsurface\' command was used to extract the mid surface of the model.
   • All holes with a diameter less than 5 mm were filled using \'filler surf\' command.
2. Meshing:
   
   • \'Automesh\' command was used to mesh the mid surface. \'Batchmesh option was used to give the mesh criteria. Element size was given as 5mm.
   • \'Quality index\' command was used to optimize the mesh elements and to split and join elements. \'Rebuild mesh\' and \'element cleanup\' commands were also used to fix the mesh quality.
   • A property ID was set for the mesh to assign it thickness.

2.Model 2 (Clip Repair):

• Similar process as mentioned in model 1 was used for geometry cleanup.
• \'Washer split\' command under \'quick edit\' was used to form washer surfaces for the large holes.
• Meshing was performed on only one of the symmetric surfaces of this model and then the surface was mirrored using the \'reflect\' command under \'tools\'. \'Node between\' command under \'measure\' was used to create reference nodes for the mirroring process. \'Equivalence\' command (under Shift+F3) was used to connect the new elements formed to the original model.
• Mesh errors were fixed and thickness was assigned by a similar process as mentioned in model 1.

3.Model 3 (Mounting Bracket):

• The geometry was found to be free from any errors. The mid surface was extracted and some surfaces with a gap of less than the element size were toggled.
• Mesh was generated, errors were fixed and thickness was assigned to the mesh by the same process as mentioned in model 1.

Conclusion:

• Commands such as \'quick edit\', \'surface edit\', etc. were used to clean up the geometry of all the models.
• Midsurface was extracted using \'Midsurface\' command and \'automesh\' command was used to mesh all the models.
• All mesh errors were successfully resolved using commands such as \'Quality index\', \'element cleanup\' and \'rebuild mesh\'

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1NBQo3NTNBKKD0ZCJgALph5FR_SWanheP