Split Panel

Use the Split panel to split plates or solid elements. In addition, hexa elements can also be split using a technique that moves progressively through a row of elements in the model.

Location: 1D, 2D, and 3D pages

Note: When you split or refine shell elements, any 1D elements such as bars that share connectivity with the shell elements will also be split in order to avoid discontinuities in the model.

Plate Elements Subpanel



Figure 1. Elements Selected


Figure 2. Plate Elements Split
Option Action
elems selector Select elements to split.
use inferred surface if no geometry exists When elements are split using this function, the new nodes that are created are placed on the element's underlying geometric surface, if it exists. If there is not a geometric surface, the new nodes are placed midway between the original corner nodes unless the use inferred surface if no geometry exists checkbox is activated, in which case the new nodes are placed upon the inferred surface of the elements.
Reverse split direction Reverse the direction quad elements are split.
Note: Available when divide quads is selected.
split method options Select a split method.

When you split elements whose nodes are associated to a surface, the new nodes created are also on the surface. To associate a node to a surface, use the Node Edit panel.

All split operators work on both first and second order elements.

Split all sides
Split a element at the midpoint of its sides.


Figure 3.
Divide quads
Divide quad elements into trias based on the advanced split option selected.
Shortest diagonals
Split quad element into tria elements using the shortest possible diagonal.


Figure 4.
Aligned diagonals
Align the diagonals of all the tria elements in the same direction.


Figure 5.
Unionjack diagonals
Split quad elements into tria elements so that their diagonals create a unionjack pattern.


Figure 6.
Largest angle diagonals
Split quad elements into tria elements using the largest angle diagonal.


Figure 7.
Midpoint - to quads
Partition an element by creating a node at its centroid and then forming quads using the midpoints of each of its sides.


Figure 8.
Midpoint - to trais
Partition an element by creating a node at its centroid and then forming trias using the element's nodes.


Figure 9.
split all connected 1D Split a connected 1D element at the midpoint of its sides.
Note: Available when the split method is set to split all sides.

Solid Elements Subpanel



Figure 10. Elements Selected


Figure 11. Elements Split into Hexas
Option Action
elems selector Select the elements to split.
split method options Select a method for splitting solid elements.
  • Split into hexas.
  • Split into a minimal number of tetras.
  • Split into symmetric sets of tetras suitable for CFD.
When you split elements whose nodes are associated to a surface, the new nodes created are also on the surface. To associate a node to a surface, use the Node Edit panel.

All split operators work on both first and second order elements.

Hexa Elements Subpanel



Figure 12. Elements Selected


Figure 13. Opposing Corners Selected on Face of Hexa Element. Select opposing corner nodes on the face of the hexa element to indicate how to split the element.


Figure 14. Elements Highlighted. The hexa elements that will be affected by the split command are highlighted.


Figure 15. Elements Split
Option Action
Propagate to Select All or the elements selector.
All
The tool will automatically decide the best possible candidate for split/combine/delete.
Elements selector
Select the representative hexa element to split.
Element edge by node pairs Select nodes to define the direction of split/combine/delete. Two subsequent node selections define a direction. You can select multiple node pairs simultaneously, but they should be neighboring nodes. Choosing by Path allows you to define multiple splits and works for split only.
Operations Select one of the following:
Split edges
Splits hex elements along edges. You can select options for biasing while splitting layers.
Combine layers
Combines neighboring elements.
Delete layer
Deletes layers of elements.
Split by diagonals
Splits a single element along the diagonal.

Hexa Elements Command Buttons

Option Action
Split/Combine/Delete Executes the selected operation.
Preview candidate Isolates a possible candidate for split/combine/delete.
Reject Undo the operation.

Refine Elements Subpanel

Engineering Solutions automatically maintains legal connectivity to shell elements that are adjacent to those that are split.

If the refined elements are attached to a surface, Engineering Solutions makes sure that the new elements are also attached to the same surface. If they are not, Engineering Solutions infers a surface from the mesh, and positions the new nodes so that they fall on the implicit surface.

Engineering Solutions calculates chordal deviation using the algorithm described in the Check Elements panel.



Figure 16. Elements Selected


Figure 17. Elements Split using Target Element Size


Figure 18. Elements Split using Chordal Deviation
Option Action
elems selector Select the elements to split.
refinement option Select a refinement option (target element size or chordal deviation).
split all connected 1D  
target element edge length Specify the target element size.
max chordal deviation Specify the target chordal deviation.
min element edge length Specify a minimum edge length which determines how far Engineering Solutions is allowed to go while attempting to satisfy the request accuracy.

Command Buttons

Button Action
return Exit the panel.