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> submenu

• 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