[catrapi]

I'm doing 4 in a row! I'm trying to model a scaffold structure.

PS - I cannot thank you enough for helping me!

[catrapi]

Hi,

After battling with this for a while, I figured it out that I couldn't do this with Multiblock Meshing. So I setted the dimesions and used the automatic method. I got the following:



The problem is that I don't get Hexa meshing everywhere. And I get a warning for mesh skewness bigger than 0.98...

[jrunsten]

The order in which you mesh the bodies are important when the geomtries get complicated. My guess is that the "core" of the pipe is meshed in a nice H-grid fashion first, which makes the 90 degree bends impossible to sweep with the multizone method. If you look at the images below, the way the core is meshed affects the outer bodies:




Also, by just hitting "Generate Mesh" you are giving Ansys one hell of a challenge here. What I do is to first hide all the core bodies, then mesh some of the outer bodies in steps. Start with just one by selecting the body, right click and choose "Generate Mesh on Selected bodies".



Then you can select the remaining bodies in that cross and mesh them together, followed by one cross at a time. So in total 5 steps.
When you have all the outer bodies meshed, go ahead and do the inner ones as well.

ALSO, looking at your images, it seems that you dont have node matching between the different crosses. Make sure that you create ONE part in DM after you have created your pattern.

[Far]

Great work.

Btw this would be much easier in ICEM right?

[catrapi]

jrunsten, I can't thank you enough! I didn't know that the mesh had to be generated step by step! Thank you for going through so much trouble to help me! I will try it now!

[jrunsten]

Originally Posted by Far

Great work.

Btw this would be much easier in ICEM right?

Thanks, nice practice for me also

Yes, ICEM would be easier (you should know ), and is where I would do it if I were to choose. But I like to use the Ansys tools as well and see how well they can compete.

But for just one project, with no previous experience in either tool, I'm not sure the time it would take to get into the ICEM way of thinking is worth it?

[Far]

Originally Posted by jrunsten

Thanks, nice practice for me also

Yes, ICEM would be easier (you should know ), and is where I would do it if I were to choose. But I like to use the Ansys tools as well and see how well they can compete.

But for just one project, with no previous experience in either tool, I'm not sure the time it would take to get into the ICEM way of thinking is worth it?

hahaha. I know the ICEM and it is relatively easy (some times I also feel helpless ) for me now to work with ICEM. ICEM is not a straight forward way of thinking and it is combination of ICEM and user which makes it work so powerfully. So human is always there in ICEM to use its full power.

On the other hand Ansys has tried to make the Ansys meshing automatic, accurate, easy to make models and easy to learn. But I am just amazed by its power as you have shown to us. Really impressed. In my understand the method you are using is also considered advance level method in AM too.

But you are right for one project it is better to go for the easy option if it does the job.

You are also giving me inspiration that I should also get my hands dirty with AM and DM thoroughly.

[catrapi]

OK, It's driving me crazy! I followed everyone of your steps, and I can't mesh it! Did you use multiblock? I get the error that the geometry can't be sweeped. Then I tried other methods and the geometry gets a triangular mesh. I really don't know what's the problem! I feel like a retard!

[jrunsten]

If you upload an archive of the project I can take a look later

[catrapi]

My files are here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3548610/Circ.UC.G1.1p0.yz.wbpz

Thank you so much!

[catrapi]

Hello. I don't want to be a nag, but did you figure something out? I'm trying, but I always get the same result.

[jrunsten]

I opened and tried really fast but I also had errors. Won't have time to look more into it today at least, but I am interested in what the problem is, so maybe I'll have a go in the weekend. You know, for fun.

[energy382]

this topology is meshed in icem hexa within 5min or less. so why do you go for ansys meshing tool?!

[catrapi]

I have to get this done by this weekend. I don't think I have time to learn how to use ICEM properly... :/

[Far]

Meshing one pipe or several pipes will take the same time in ICEM Five minutes

You can learn ICEM within 10 minutes

[diamondx]

In ICEM , you can then you duplicate or copy the mesh without meshing everything

[Far]

Originally Posted by diamondx

In ICEM , you can then you duplicate or copy the mesh without meshing everything

Hey we are here not to kill Ansys meshing

[catrapi]

Thank you all. I'm going to give it a go in ICEM then!
PS- Thank you for the files Far

[Far]

Important tips

1. Use the clean geometry (without slices made in DM)
2. Build topology
3. use two splits horizonality and two vertically (assuming you have two pipe in cross). If there are more pipes in series, increase the vertical splits
4. Delete unwanted blocks
5. Associate edge to curves on the ends of each pipe. For simple case i.e. two pipes intersecting, you have four ends.
6. Important Associate two vertices to each intersecting curves at intersection of two pipes. You have total 8 vertices and four curves.
7. Go to O-grid panel and then select all blocking and faces at each end of pipes and apply
8. Set mesh parameters
9. Select solver
9. Set boundary conditions
10. Output mesh.
11. Import into Fluent.