ICEM CFD Hexa uses a unique flexible blocking based approach to hexahedral grid generation. As a result, ICEM CFD Hexa allows you to generate high quality hexahedral grids in a fraction of the time that is traditionally required. Also, the separate blocking topology is parametric and can be fit to topologically similar geometries. This means you shouldn't have to block the same model type twice because you can fit your previous blocking to the new geometry. If only parametric changes were made, you can simply update the blocking with one click.
How does it work ?
Hexa can be used with a bottom up or top down methodology, most users combine these methods for advanced geometry.
The user imports the CAD surfaces or STL data that describes the space to be meshed into ICEM CFD Hexa. With the top down method, hexa then automatically generates a global block around the CAD. By subdividing this block into smaller blocks and assigning different materials the user can `sculpt' out the desired shape. To reflect the characteristic features of the geometry to be meshed, the block structure can be interactively adjusted to the underlying CAD geometry.
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| Initial Global Block | Cut Block | ||
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| Projected Mesh | Automatic O Mesh |
If top down is like sculpting, then the bottom up method is more like brick laying. The user can create blocks by corners, around objects, or simply by extruding from other blocks.
Most users start with a top down approach as this is the quickest way to capture most of the topology, and then they use some bottom up operations as needed.
We have recently developed our MultiZone blocking technique that starts by automatically blocking out the surfaces. If the surface blocking can form a closed volume, then it may be automatically filled with a number of structured, swept or unstructured blocks. The unstructured blocks can each be filled with their own type of unstructured fill, options include Delaunay Tetra, Advancing front Tetra, Hexa Core and Hexa Dominant mesh. In the below image, the thin blue lines are the flexible blocking structure. The blue unstructured surface (meshed with triangles) is swept to make the boundary layers.
Click here to see 'Real-Time' demonstrations of our latest 'State of the art' meshing technology.