Step 4: View and Check the Mesh

There are two ways to view the mesh: you can use the wireframe for the entire simulation or you can view the mesh for a particular portion of the simulation.

To view the mesh for the entire simulation:

1.   Right-click on the wireframe in the 3D Viewer and select Show surface mesh to display the mesh.

2.   Click the "Z'' axis of triad in the viewer to get a side view of the object. (Remember that the 3D Viewer toolbar has to be in viewing mode for you to be able to select the triad elements.)

Figure 1.2: The Hexahedral Grid for the Mixing Elbow

3.   In the Outline tree view, double-click on User Locations and Plots / Wireframe to display the wireframe's editor.

   Click on the Details of Wireframe editor and press F1 to see help about the Wireframe object.

4.   On the Wireframe Details view, click Defaults and Apply to restore the original settings.

To view the mesh for a particular portion of the simulation (in this case, the wall):

1.   In the Outline tree view, select the check box beside Cases / elbow1 / fluid / wall, then double-click wall to edit its properties in its Details view.

2.   In the Details view:

(a)   On the Render tab, clear the Show Faces check box.

(b)   Select the Show Mesh Lines check box.

(c)   Ensure that Edge Angle is set to 0 [degree].

(d)   Click Apply.

The mesh appears and is similar to the mesh shown by the previous procedure, except that the mesh is shown only on the wall.

(e)   Now, clear the display of the wall wireframe. In the Details view:

i.   Clear the Render / Show Mesh Lines check box.

ii.   Select the Show Faces check box.

iii.   Click Apply.

The wall reappears.

3.   In the Outline tree view, clear the check box beside Cases / elbow1 / fluid / wall.

Note:    The rest of the tutorial assumes that the wall is not visible or, if it is visible, that it is showing faces, not lines.

To check the mesh:

1.   Select the Calculators tab at the top of the workspace area, then double-click Mesh Calculator. The Mesh Calculator appears.

2.   Using the drop-down arrow beside the Function field, select a function such as Maximum Face Angle.

3.   Click Calculate. The results of the calculation appear.

4.   Repeat the previous steps for other functions, such as Mesh Information.