Bounded Shapes
Use bounded shapes to define your simulation domain or to refine the mesh in certain locations. Bounded shapes are shape parts that are bound to existing geometry, and resize to maintain their relative shape and size according to the reference geometry.
Shape parts are useful for defining the simulation domain in external flows, or for defining global or local refinement regions; however, they are static shapes that remain in position, and the same size all the time. If you use a shape part to define the local extent for local meshing, and you change the design of your geometry, you have to manually update the size and position of the shape part to suit the new geometry design. In contrast, a bounded shape automatically updates when you change the geometry.
Each face on the bounded shape is a separate surface in the output part, making it easier to manage the boundaries in your simulation.
Bounded Shape Operation Properties
- Input Parts
- Specifies the parts used to position, size, and orientate the bounded shapes.
- Output Part Creation Mode
- Specifies the method for bounding the input parts:
- Single Bounded Shape—creates a single shape to surround all input parts. If Use All Part Surfaces as Source is deactivated, this method creates a single shape only around the part surfaces that you specify under Source Part Surfaces.
- One Bounded Shape per Part—creates a shape for each input part. If Use All Part Surfaces as Source is deactivated, this method creates a shape for each part calculated based on the part surfaces specified under Source Part Surfaces.
- One Bounded Shape per Part Surface—creates a shape for each input part surface defined under Source Part Surfaces.
- Output Part Types
- Specifies the shape of the bounded part.
- Axis Aligned Box—creates a box that is aligned with the axes of the specified coordinate system.
- Sphere—creates a sphere that is aligned with the axes of the specified coordinate system.
- Cylinder—creates a cylinder that is automatically positioned to ensure a tight fit around the input parts.
- Shape Aligned Box—creates a box around the input parts that is automatically positioned to ensure a tight fit around the input parts.
- Coordinate System
- Specifies the coordinate system with respect to which the Axis Aligned Box and Sphere bounded shapes are defined. Custom coordinate systems that you create are available for selection.
- Output Parts
- Displays the name of the output part that the operation generates (read only).
Bounded Shape Controls
- Source Part Surfaces
- Specifies the part surfaces used for calculating the bounding shape. If Use All Part Surfaces as Source is activated, all part surfaces from the specified Input Parts are used for the calculation of the bounding shape.
- Inflation Control
- Specifies the Inflation method used to grow the bounded
shape:
- Constant Factor—controls the inflation of the bounded shape using a single factor that inflates the bounded shape in all directions, relative to the input part. For Cylinder output part types, this property inflates the cylinder in the axial and radial directions.
- Individual Factors—control the inflation using three factors, X Factor, Y Factor, and Z Factor and inflates the bounding shape relative to the input part. Each factor controls the inflation of the bounded shape in a specific direction, independently of the other factors.
- Constant Offset—specifies a constant offset distance by which the bounding part is inflated in all directions.
- Individual Offsets—specifies individual offset distances for all directions, independently of each other, in the +/-X, +/-Y, and +/-Z directions.
- Centroid Offset
- Specifies the offset by which the bounding shape is translated. Set the offsets in the X Offset, Y Offset, and Z Offset entries. When you choose the Cylinder output part type, this property offsets the cylinder along the specified directions by the specified amounts.