Mesh the Part

Create the mesh for the composite plate.

In meshing the composite plate, an approximate seed size of 0.006 is used to ensure the mesh is fine enough to capture the location of failure, but also coarse enough for a short solution time.

1. Switch to the Mesh module, and make sure that the Object toolbar option is set to Part.

   

2. Click on the Seed Part icon or select Seed > Part from the main toolbar. The Global Seeds dialog box appears.
3. Enter 0.006 in the approximate global size field. Click OK.
4. Click on the Assign Element Type icon or select Mesh > Element Type from the main toolbar. The Element Type dialog box appears.
5. Select the 3D Stress Element C3D8R. Click OK.
6. Assign mesh controls by selecting Mesh > Controls from the main tool bar. Select the Sweep technique and the Medial axis algorithm. Click OK.
7. Mesh the part by clicking on the Mesh Part icon or by selecting Mesh > Part from the main toolbar. Click the Yes button. The mesh should be similar to the mesh shown below.