GMS:2D Mesh Commands

When the 2D Mesh module is active, the Mesh menu becomes available. The Mesh menu has two submenus: Convert To and Advanced. Below is a list of all commands in the Mesh menu:

New 2D Mesh

Creates a new, empty 2D mesh.

2D Mesh Settings...

Opens the 2D mesh settings which include: default z values for new nodes, options for deleting triangles etc.

Lock All Nodes

Since it is possible to accidentally drag points, nodes can be "locked" to prevent them from being dragged or edited by toggling on this command.

Find Element...

Selects an element given the element ID.

Find Node...

Selects a node given the node ID.

Triangulate

Creates triangular elements from all or selected nodes using the Delauney criteria. If triangles already exist, they will be deleted.

Renumber

Renumbers mesh nodes eliminating gaps in numbering. Optionally a node string can be created and used to guide the renumbering.

Z Values → Dataset

Creates a dataset from the Z locations of the nodes.

Map to Z Values

Moves the Z locations of the nodes to the values in the dataset.

Zoom To Extents

Frames the Graphics Window around the selected objects.

Convert To>

Mesh → 2D Scatter Points

A new 2D scatter point set is created from the 2D mesh nodes.

Mesh → TIN

A new TIN is created from the 2D mesh.

Contours → Arcs

Creates a new coverage containing feature arcs derived from the linear contours displayed on the 2D mesh.

Advanced> submenu

• Select Thin Triangles

Selects triangles which meet the "thin triangle aspect ratio" specified in the 2D mesh settings.

• Find Duplicate Nodes...

Selects nodes that are close to each other within a user specified tolerance.

• Merge Triangles

Used to convert triangular elements into quadratic elements.

• Split Quadrilaterals

Used to convert quadrilateral elements into triangular elements.

• Add Breaklines

Inserts the node strings into the mesh as a new edge, creating new elements and nodes.

• Convert Elements

Converts linear elements to quadratic and quadratic elements to linear.

• Refine Elements

Subdivides elements into smaller elements.

• Relax Elements...

Moves mesh nodes in order to improve the quality (element shape and size) of the mesh.

• Mesh → 3D Tets

Creates a 3D mesh consisting of tetrahedron from the 2D mesh.

• Export

Exports a 2D mesh to a file (*.2dm, *.fem etc).

Related Topics

• 2D Mesh Module