Project 2 - 2D meshing on the instrumental Panel

PROJECT 2 : 2D MESHING ON INSTRUMENTAL PANEL

OBJECTIVE:

To conduct geometry cleanup and mesh the mid-surface for the Instrumental Panel CAD model as per the given quality criteria.

CAD MODEL:

Model of Instrumental Panel

PROCEDURE:

1. Importing CAD model:

• Open the geometry model. Use Topology option to clear the cons and check the model orientation using Entity Drawing Style in Menubar.

• Check and assign PID and Materials from Lists menu (if required).

2. Geometrical Clean-up:

• Check for geometrical errors using Checks Manager option. Execute the geometry after selecting the required options.

• Clear the errors using auto-fix option in Checks Manager from Tools menu.

• If the errors still persist, then they have to be corrected manually using TOPO options.

• Here the highlighted regions in the model indicates faces or cons that needs to be corrected.
• Rerun the geometry check again for zero errors.

3. Quality Criteria and Meshing:

• Select and enter the values required in the Quality Criteria box from Utilities menu.

• Input the required mesh length and minimum length in Mesh Parameters from Utilities menu.

4. Creating Mid-surface and Meshing:

• Check the model thickness at different spots using Measure option in Utilities menu.

• Store the measurement data in Database if required.

• The given model has multiple thickness in different regions as per the measurement data shown above.
• Extraction of mid-surface of the model can be done using Mid-Surface option/manual method from Topo menu. We shall proceed with the auto-mid extraction using Mid-Surface (Casting) option.

• This method obtains proper Finite element model of the mid-surface.

• We shall try to obtain proper mid-surface for all the features by correcting the FE model manally.
• Store Lock the mid-surfaces and parent model view separately.

• Select Classical Mesh option from Mesh module.
• Use Shadow Drawing Style to view the mesh quality deviations.
• Correct the mesh flow and quality using Mesh options.
• For correction of FE as shown below can be done using Align Manager option from Mid.Surfaces menu.
• The solid feature shown below appears to be in correctly captured by auto-mesh. This can be modelled by adjusting the parameters or by creating new shells.

• The Perimeters option in Align Manager helps to configure the shell outline to their respective outer surface.

• Elevated features fused with another surface can be aligned between surfaces using Areas option in Align Manager.

• Thickness will be automatically assigned to each element during auto-mid extraction. We can check it using Info option from Utilities menubar.
• Assign new PID and thickness value separately for the areas.

• Assigned thickness of shell can be compared with CAD geometry by applying Draw shell as solid option in Quality Criteria.

5. Final Model:

RESULTS:

The given Instrumental Panel model has been completely meshed by assigning thickness but certain elements has failed quality criteria due to constraints induced by triple cons.

CONCLUSION:

• Casting option for mid-surface mesh generation gives faster result than manual method but certain limitations were observed in feature capturing and mesh flow.
• Working on FE model posed challenges due to separation of geometry and mesh elements. This provided an opportunity to work on Align Manager tools