Hi
I would like to be able to create a composite structure in Texgen and then generate a hexahedral mesh. I have tried exporting the structure as an Abaqus .inp file but when imported Abaqus treats the mesh as an orphan mesh and it does not seem to be possible to change it. Is there anything different I can do with the export to get round this? (I previously tried transferring the structure to Abaqus as a STEP file but then it imported each yarn as a separate part and I couldn’t generate a common mesh.) I am using Abaqus 6.6.2 so have had to leave out the orientation information but I don't think this would make any difference? Alternatively can I generate a hexahedral mesh in Texgen through the GUI (I haven’t been able to find this) or with a simple Python script?
Thanks to anyone for any help.
Sue
Hexahedral meshing
Moderators: Martin, Developers
Hi Sue,
meshing is generally a problem.
I have added a set of tools for parametric analysis to the following project:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/cmpp/
This uses texgen as a geometry modeller and calculix as a solver (it achieves robustness by averaging properties instead of actually modelling the tow bounds).
I hope this helps.
W
meshing is generally a problem.
I have added a set of tools for parametric analysis to the following project:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/cmpp/
This uses texgen as a geometry modeller and calculix as a solver (it achieves robustness by averaging properties instead of actually modelling the tow bounds).
I hope this helps.
W
Thanks for the offer. I have been trying to sort this out ready for a post grad student project so don't have exact details yet - I think it will have to be part of the project to sort out appropriate code! But your example will be very helpful - I can see in principle what we will need to do now.
Sue.
Sue.
Re: Hexahedral meshing
I like to be able to create a textile structure in Texgen and then generate its corresponding mesh. I have tried exporting the structure as an Abaqus .inp file but when imported Abaqus treats the mesh as an orphan mesh and it does not seem to be possible to change it. Is there anything different I can do with the export to get round this?
If you have a piece of script for Python inside the TexGen that can change the textile to its corresponding mesh please let me know.
I want to be able to make a mesh of my textile in texGen by any means.
If you have a piece of script for Python inside the TexGen that can change the textile to its corresponding mesh please let me know.
I want to be able to make a mesh of my textile in texGen by any means.
Re: Hexahedral meshing
Hi,
I'm not 100% sure what you're trying to achieve here. If you use one of the export options ( volume mesh, ABAQUS dry fibre or ABAQUS voxel) then this will generate a mesh of the textile.
Alternatively if you export as STEP or IGES then the geometry will be exported which you could then mesh within ABAQUS (although this method isn't always as reliable).
Another option which I've just seen when I did a search was a "3D Mesh to Geometry Plug-in" for ABAQUS as described here http://www.simulia.com/products/3dmesh.html . This will apparently generate a geometry from an orphan mesh which can then be remeshed within ABAQUS. (I don't know anything else about this though). This method would, however, render the orientation and volume fraction information exported in the .ori and .eld files useless.
Hope that helps,
Louise
I'm not 100% sure what you're trying to achieve here. If you use one of the export options ( volume mesh, ABAQUS dry fibre or ABAQUS voxel) then this will generate a mesh of the textile.
Alternatively if you export as STEP or IGES then the geometry will be exported which you could then mesh within ABAQUS (although this method isn't always as reliable).
Another option which I've just seen when I did a search was a "3D Mesh to Geometry Plug-in" for ABAQUS as described here http://www.simulia.com/products/3dmesh.html . This will apparently generate a geometry from an orphan mesh which can then be remeshed within ABAQUS. (I don't know anything else about this though). This method would, however, render the orientation and volume fraction information exported in the .ori and .eld files useless.
Hope that helps,
Louise
Re: Hexahedral meshing
Dear Louisepb,
I want to have a corresponding mesh of this textile in TexGen. If there is any special scripts or any option inside the TexGen (that I have not found it yet).
In case of no way, How can I have it with the aid of Abaqus or any additional software, that provides me the mesh of the textile.
Then I want to be able to change the size and dimensions of the mesh cells.
Appreciate your valuable time and cars.
Reza
I want to have a corresponding mesh of this textile in TexGen. If there is any special scripts or any option inside the TexGen (that I have not found it yet).
In case of no way, How can I have it with the aid of Abaqus or any additional software, that provides me the mesh of the textile.
Then I want to be able to change the size and dimensions of the mesh cells.
Appreciate your valuable time and cars.
Reza
Last edited by m_azodi on Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Hexahedral meshing
Hi Reza,
Your script has created the textile model. If you want to view the surface mesh then choose the Rendering->X-Ray option.
To view the volume mesh ( which is the same as that exported by the Export->Abaqus File->ABAQUS Dry Fibre File... option ) then choose Rendering->Render Textile Volume (deselect Render Textile Surface first so that you don't get the two superimposed).
The tetrahedral mesh produced by the Export->Volume Mesh option can't be viewed in TexGen. If you save to a vtk file rather than a .inp then you can view it using Paraview. Otherwise import it into Abaqus to view the mesh.
The resolution of the surface and volume meshes can be changed using the Yarn.SetResolution functions as described in the API documentation.
Louise
Your script has created the textile model. If you want to view the surface mesh then choose the Rendering->X-Ray option.
To view the volume mesh ( which is the same as that exported by the Export->Abaqus File->ABAQUS Dry Fibre File... option ) then choose Rendering->Render Textile Volume (deselect Render Textile Surface first so that you don't get the two superimposed).
The tetrahedral mesh produced by the Export->Volume Mesh option can't be viewed in TexGen. If you save to a vtk file rather than a .inp then you can view it using Paraview. Otherwise import it into Abaqus to view the mesh.
The resolution of the surface and volume meshes can be changed using the Yarn.SetResolution functions as described in the API documentation.
Louise
Re: Hexahedral meshing
Dear Louise,
Many thanks for your great reply. Please consider that I am new to the topic, so please bear with me. I am wondering the meshes which have been created here: Poor meshing of near-vertical yarns (http://texgen.sourceforge.net/phpBB3/vi ... p=995#p995)
How are they made?
Are these made in Abaqus? Or in TexGen? Recuse once I herd that the mesh which is being exported from TexGen to Abaqus is an orphan mesh, and we can do nothing with that (I am not sure whether it is right!).
So, now how to change the mesh cells? the shape and the dimensions?
Ps. Maybe I was wrong to asked my questions in this hexahedral meshing topic, so kindly ignore it, and I did not mean anything related to hedrahexal meshing.
Many thanks for your great reply. Please consider that I am new to the topic, so please bear with me. I am wondering the meshes which have been created here: Poor meshing of near-vertical yarns (http://texgen.sourceforge.net/phpBB3/vi ... p=995#p995)
How are they made?
Are these made in Abaqus? Or in TexGen? Recuse once I herd that the mesh which is being exported from TexGen to Abaqus is an orphan mesh, and we can do nothing with that (I am not sure whether it is right!).
So, now how to change the mesh cells? the shape and the dimensions?
Ps. Maybe I was wrong to asked my questions in this hexahedral meshing topic, so kindly ignore it, and I did not mean anything related to hedrahexal meshing.
Re: Hexahedral meshing
Hi,
The meshes in the thread you point to are created using the File->Export->Volume Mesh option in TexGen. It looks like your script is a 2D textile so you shouldn't encounter the problems described in the thread.
You can change the mesh size by changing the seed size in the dialog.
Louise
The meshes in the thread you point to are created using the File->Export->Volume Mesh option in TexGen. It looks like your script is a 2D textile so you shouldn't encounter the problems described in the thread.
You can change the mesh size by changing the seed size in the dialog.
Louise
Re: Hexahedral meshing
Dear Louise,
Really appreciate your kind and fast reply,
"The meshes in the thread you point to are created using the File->Export->Volume Mesh option in TexGen"
here there are two options, one is to save with .vtu extension, and the other one is so save with .inp extension.
And then how and where (ParaView or Abaqus or ?) can I get those colorful meshed? I mean each yarn has a different color like those meshes in that thread.
Really appreciate your kind and fast reply,
"The meshes in the thread you point to are created using the File->Export->Volume Mesh option in TexGen"
here there are two options, one is to save with .vtu extension, and the other one is so save with .inp extension.
And then how and where (ParaView or Abaqus or ?) can I get those colorful meshed? I mean each yarn has a different color like those meshes in that thread.
Last edited by m_azodi on Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Hexahedral meshing
Hi,
I'm not sure what software was used to display the images in the other thread. If you use Paraview to display a .vtu file then you can get each yarn to display in a different colour if you choose to "Colour by" yarn index. I don't know whether Abaqus gives this facility or not.
The Volume Mesh option will give you tetrahedral elements (ie with triangular faces), the Voxel Mesh option will give you hexahedral elements (ie with rectangular faces). Voxel meshes can only be saved as Abaqus files, not vtu files.
Louise
I'm not sure what software was used to display the images in the other thread. If you use Paraview to display a .vtu file then you can get each yarn to display in a different colour if you choose to "Colour by" yarn index. I don't know whether Abaqus gives this facility or not.
The Volume Mesh option will give you tetrahedral elements (ie with triangular faces), the Voxel Mesh option will give you hexahedral elements (ie with rectangular faces). Voxel meshes can only be saved as Abaqus files, not vtu files.
Louise
Re: Hexahedral meshing
Dear Louise,
I am still facing problem.
Every time I use this tab Export->Volume Mesh option and save a.vtu file of my textile. After opening this file with ParaView, and press apply, all the time a box would appear, a grey box which does not show the mesh of the textile. Any suggestions?
Many thanks in advance
I am still facing problem.
Every time I use this tab Export->Volume Mesh option and save a.vtu file of my textile. After opening this file with ParaView, and press apply, all the time a box would appear, a grey box which does not show the mesh of the textile. Any suggestions?
Many thanks in advance
Last edited by m_azodi on Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Hexahedral meshing
Hi,
The grey box is showing you the domain of your composite. If selecting Colour by Yarn Index doesn't display the yarns in different colours try selecting Rescale to Data.
You can display the mesh by selecting Style, Representation->Surface with Edges.
Basically you just need to play around with the settings to get it to display how you want.
The filters are also useful. If you use the Threshold filter and filter by yarn index then by getting rid of the -1 index (matrix) you can display just the yarns.
I found all this out by trial and error - you just need to experiment!
Louise
The grey box is showing you the domain of your composite. If selecting Colour by Yarn Index doesn't display the yarns in different colours try selecting Rescale to Data.
You can display the mesh by selecting Style, Representation->Surface with Edges.
Basically you just need to play around with the settings to get it to display how you want.
The filters are also useful. If you use the Threshold filter and filter by yarn index then by getting rid of the -1 index (matrix) you can display just the yarns.
I found all this out by trial and error - you just need to experiment!
Louise