Generating the Prismatic Cell Layers

Prismatic cell layers are generated from the polygonal, quad, or triangular surface mesh. This approach gives an advantage over the prism layer mesher as the prismatic cell layers are less dependent on the original surface topology.

A more uniform thickness is therefore possible across all prismatic cell layers.

In some cases, the first layer next to the boundary may not have a uniform thickness. This scenario occurs when the advancing layer mesher has to collapse faces and edges in order to fit the required number of layers. In the example that is shown below, four prism layers is not sufficient for the mesher to maintain a uniform thickness in the corner of the volume mesh.

Increasing the number of prism layers to six, so that the first prism layer is thinner, results in a uniform first layer thickness.

Specifying a Limit for the Aspect Ratio

You can limit the aspect ratio of prism cells, that is, the ratio of the total prism layers thickness to the base size (see Advancing Layer Mesher Reference).

To define a global limiting value for all parts in the mesh operation:

  1. Select the relevant Automated Mesh > Meshers > Advancing Layer Mesher node and activate Limit Aspect Ratio. This adds the Limit Aspect Ratio node within the Default Controls node.

  2. To specify the limit aspect ratio, select Default Controls > Limit Aspect Ratio and specify a limit value between 0.5 and 3.0.

    To customize the aspect ratio value for specific surfaces or volumes, you can use custom controls:

  3. Right-click the Automated Mesh > Custom Controls node and select New > Surface Control. A new Surface Control node is created under custom controls.

  4. Select the relevant Surface Control> Controls > Prism Layers node and set Prism Layers to Custom.

  5. In the Properties window, set Prism Layers to Custom.
  6. Activate Customize Limit Aspect Ratio.
  7. To customize the value of the aspect ratio, select the Values > Custom Prism Values
    node and set Limit Aspect Ratio to a value between 0.5 and 3.0.

    If you only wish to specify the limit aspect ratio on specific surfaces and volumes, without setting a global value, you can specify the limit aspect ratio directly using custom controls, without setting the Default Controls > Limit Aspect Ratio node.