Principle

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There are two quite different mesh types in TopCASTOR:

Part meshes

Beam meshes (only available in TopCASTOR 3D).

These different mesh types can subsequently be assembled.

Beam meshing

Beam meshing is implemented in a single step, with automatic joining of the beam ends involved in its construction.   This mesh allows you to choose the element type from the following two types:

 2-node linear beam elements

 3-node tetragonal beam elements 

Part meshing

Part meshing is implemented in 2 or 3 stages, depending on whether it comprises a skin mesh (plate and shell) or a volumetric mesh.

Whatever the intended final mesh type, the first step is cutting the edges of the part.  The aim of this operation is to prepare the necessary skin meshing data, i.e. the contours of the faces to be stitched.

Then comes skin meshing.  There are several element types available in TopCASTOR:

 3-node plate elements (3D document)

 4-node plate elements (3D document)

 6-node shell elements (3D document)

 8-node shell elements (3D document)

 6-node 2D elements  (2D document)

 8-node 2D elements  (2D document)

In order to obtain these elements, there are 3 meshers available:

the free mesher , which can be used globally or locally

the front mesher , which can be used globally or locally

the structured mesher , which can only be used locally

The validation of criteria function enables the quality of the elements to be verified according to different criteria.

To modify in a detailed way

If the part is volumetric, and its mesh comprises a triangular element (3- or 6-nodes), a volumetric mesh can be deduced from the skin mesh.

The latter mesh can be implemented by both of the following element types:

 4-node tetrahedral elements

 10-node tetrahedral elements

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