XANSYS Message: 37 [Go back to message list]
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Subject: Re: Hex & Tet elements
Author: Martin Liddle
Date: 1998-12-15 18:02:00In article <7D70697C0E38D111B4FF080036B39A03AAE5E1@n...>,
John Swanson writes
>From: John Swanson
> With mid-side node elements (10 node tet, 20 node bricks), the
>results should be the same (very close) for the same nodal density.
>The tet mesh will have more nodes because of the nodes in the
>center of the faces and in the center of the brick, and therefore will
>be somewhat more accurate.
> The advantage of fully automatic mesh generation offered by the
>tet elements normally outweighs the additional time the solution
>might take (computers are cheaper than people, and time is always
>critical).
>John.Swanson
I agree with what John says as far as it goes. However in practice the
difficulty with a tet mesh is in controlling the mesh refinement. I do
a lot of thermal stress analysis with steep temperature gradients near
the surface and it can be difficult to get a tet mesh that is
sufficiently refined in the through thickness direction. It can be much
more difficult to mesh a given geometry with bricks but much easier to
control the mesh refinement.
Martin Liddle, Tynemouth Computer Services, 27 Garforth Close,
Cramlington, Northumberland, England, NE23 6EW.
Phone and fax: 01670-712624.