Starting with your FE Analysis the model should be simple. Simplicity helps the meshing algorithm to produce a grid, without damaged cell elements. In this blog article, you will use basic geometry idealization and abstraction commands to simplify the model in preparation for meshing. 

The CAD, which is opened with a .prt file, is shown below: 

Figure 1: 3D representation of the part. 

To modify the 3D model, you must “Promote” it to an idealized part. This way you can modify it without changing the initial model. 

Here are some modifications you can make, to simplify your model:

• If your model is symmetric, you can decrease the solving time by using the command “split body” and analyzing only one half. 

Figure 2: Half geometry.

• The geometry might have filleted edges. In this case, you can delete these faces to make corners, helping the program generate a better mesh.  

Figure 3: The blends with a small radius are deleted.

• You can delete the small slots as well. If there is support in this position, you will remove the slot and replace it with an edge which you can later assign the boundary condition.

Figure 4: Slots are deleted.

• In the FEM file, you can use abstraction tools to further prepare your part for meshing. You will suppress an edge that will distort elements created along the curved face.

Figure 5:Unnecessary surfaces are deleted.

FEM Results: 

Figure 6: Mesh grid: Without the modifications (Left)- With the modification (Right).

Conclusions: 

Two different mesh grids are created, both using the same element size. The one with the most detailed geometry needs more elements for the mesh grid creation. The computational cost, the program needs to solve the simulation, is larger than the second one. Thus, depending on the level of the required accuracy, it is important to make a trade-off by cleaning-up the geometry.

We at FEAC hope that this blog post has been interesting and that you will be able to create a nice FE Analysis after reading this. If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us at info@feacomp.com