Generate finite element meshes. Use when user mentions mesh, elements, nodes, refine mesh, mesh size, or asks about element types like C3D8R, C3D10, S4R.
Generate finite element meshes for Abaqus models. Discretizes geometry into elements and nodes for analysis.
Route here when user mentions:
Route elsewhere:
/abaqus-geometry/abaqus-geometry/abaqus-odbBefore meshing:
Ask if unclear:
| Geometry | Recommended | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple box/prism | Hex, reduced | C3D8R | Fast, accurate, try first |
| Complex freeform | Tet, quadratic | C3D10 | Meshes anything |
| Thin-walled (t/L < 0.1) | Shell | S4R | Plates, shells |
| Slender beams (L/d > 10) | Beam | B31 | Frames, trusses |
Decision guidance:
| Use Case | Element Size | Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Quick feasibility | 10-20mm | 5+ elements across model |
| General analysis | 3-5mm | 10+ elements across smallest dimension |
| Stress concentrations | 1-2mm | 5+ elements in high-gradient regions |
| Topology optimization | 2-5mm | 3-5 elements across expected members |
Rule of thumb: At least 3 elements across any feature you care about.
Learning Edition allows max 1000 nodes.
| Box Dimensions (mm) | Max Element Size |
|---|---|
| 100 x 100 x 100 | 20mm |
| 100 x 50 x 30 | 10mm |
| 50 x 50 x 50 | 12mm |
| 200 x 100 x 50 | 25mm |
Estimation formula: nodes ≈ (L/size + 1) × (W/size + 1) × (H/size + 1)
Refine mesh near:
Options:
After mesh generation, check:
| Code | Type | Nodes | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3D8R | Hex, reduced | 8 | General purpose (recommended) |
| C3D8 | Hex, full | 8 | Bending-dominated, no hourglass |
| C3D20R | Hex, quadratic | 20 | High accuracy, expensive |
| C3D4 | Tet, linear | 4 | Complex geometry (less accurate) |
| C3D10 | Tet, quadratic | 10 | Complex geometry (better accuracy) |
| Code | Type | Nodes | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4R | Quad, reduced | 4 | General purpose (recommended) |
| S4 | Quad, full | 4 | No hourglass |
| S3 | Triangle | 3 | Complex surfaces |
| Metric | Target | Warning | Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | < 5:1 | 5-10:1 | > 10:1 |
| Jacobian | > 0.5 | 0.1-0.5 | < 0.1 |
| Min angle (quad) | > 45° | 30-45° | < 30° |
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "Cannot mesh region" | Geometry too complex for hex | Switch to TET with FREE technique |
| "Element distortion" | Poor element shapes | Refine locally or fix geometry |
| "Exceeded node limit" | Mesh too fine | Increase element size |
| "No mesh controls" | Missing mesh technique | Set mesh controls before generating |
| Mesh won't generate | Gaps in geometry | Check geometry, merge if needed |
For API syntax and code examples, see: