Once a visual inspection has determined that the mesh density is appropriate, use the Mesh Statistics summary to determine if the quality of the mesh is acceptable.
The Mesh Statistics summary is divided into a number of different sections that provide a quick overview of various characteristics of the mesh. Specify the element type and report options you want to review. The sections that appear depend on the model mesh type and element type that you select.
If you find that there are problems with the mesh, use the tools found on the Mesh Diagnostic panel and the Mesh Repair panel (Mesh tab) to display diagnostic details and fix defects.
Entity Counts
Reports the total number of elements of the specified type, the number of connected nodes associated with those elements, and the number of connectivity regions. Check the Connectivity regions value, which should be 1. Any more than this will indicate disconnected sections of the part or runner system.
Area
Reports the total surface area of all Triangle elements in the model.
Volume
Reports the total volume represented by all elements of the specified type.
Aspect Ratio
Reports the minimum, maximum, and average aspect ratios of Beam or Triangle elements in the mesh. The aspect ratio of an element is the ratio of the longest side to the height perpendicular to that side (a / b in the following figure).
| For: | Max. Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|
| Midplane/Dual Domain | 6:1 |
| Midplane/Dual Domain-noncritical areas | 20:1 |
| Tetra elements | 50:1 |
| Dual Domain mesh before conversion to 3D | 20:1 |
| Cool and Warp analysis | 6:1 |
Very high aspect ratio triangles should be avoided, especially when the longest side is in the direction of flow as this can affect localized results. The report indicates that there is at least one element with a high aspect ratio. You will investigate this later.
Edge Details
- A free edge is one that is not connected to another surface. A Dual Domain or 3D mesh must have no free edges, but free edges are normal for a Midplane mesh.
- A manifold edge is a mesh edge that has two elements attached to it. This is the only edge type that is allowed for a Dual Domain mesh.
- A non-manifold edge has more than two elements attached to it. For a Dual Domain mesh, this value should be zero.
Orientation Details
Reports the number of elements which are not oriented correctly. The Elements not oriented value should be zero. Orientation is not a meshing error but a data handling requirement of the program, and is explained in the Mesh editing tutorial.
Intersection Details
Reports the number of element intersections, fully overlapping elements, and duplicate beams. All values should be zero.
Match Percentage (Dual Domain mesh only)
Reports the mesh match percentage and reciprocal percentage for the opposing surfaces of a Dual Domain mesh. The mesh match values should ideally be 85% or higher. This is a measure of how elements on one surface correspond with elements on the opposite surface. This measure is very important for correct part thickness determination and fiber orientation prediction.Tetra aspect ratios (3D mesh only)
Reports the minimum, maximum, and average aspect ratios, and the maximum dihedral angle of Tetrahedral elements found in the mesh.