SMS:UGrid Module

The UGrid module is used with unstructured grid (UGrid) geometric objects. Unstructured grids are very flexible. They can include many types of cells including 2D and 3D cells and cells with any number of faces and nodes.

Eventually UGrids will be used for all the things that 2D Grids are currently used for. A UGrid is similar to the old 2D grids and meshes available in SMS but much more flexible. UGrids can use any type of cell, meaning cells with any number of faces and nodes. This flexibility allows for more realistic modeling of geologic features such as pinchouts.

Creating a UGrid

A UGrid in SMS needs to be created from an existing geometry. A UGrid can be generated by converting any of the following geometries:

• 2D scatter set
• 2D mesh
• Map feature objects
• Quadtree

UGrid Menus

The UGrid module has menus similar to those in the 2D mesh module. This includes the following menus:

• Data
• Nodes
• Nodestrings
• Elements
• Project Explorer right-click commands

See the article UGrid Menus for more information.

UGrid Tools

Select Nodes

The Select Nodes tool is used to select nodes. A single node is selected by clicking on it. A second node can be added to the selection list by holding the SHIFT key while selecting it. Multiple nodes can be selected at once by dragging a box around them. A selected node can be deselected by holding the SHIFT key as it is clicked.

If the nodes are not locked (see the menu command Nodes | Locked), then a single node can be clicked and dragged to a new location. As the node is being dragged, its new location is shown in the Edit Window. If a single node selected, the X, Y, and Z Coordinate fields in the Edit Window become available to set the node location exactly. If multiple nodes are selected, the Z Coordinate field in the Edit Window becomes available. The value shown is the average elevation value of all selected nodes. If this value is changed, the new value will be assigned to all selected nodes.

With one node selected, the Edit Window shows the node id number and the number of elements to which it is attached. With two nodes selected, the Edit Window shows both node id numbers and the distance between the nodes. With multiple nodes selected, the Edit Window shows the number of selected nodes.

Select Elements

The Select Elements tool is used to select elements. A single element is selected by clicking inside it. A second element can be added to the selection list by holding the SHIFT key while selecting it. Multiple elements can be selected at once by dragging a box around them. Holding the CTRL key and dragging the mouse selects any elements through which the line is drawn. A selected element can be deselected by holding the SHIFT key as it is clicked.

When elements are selected, the Z Coordinate field in the Edit Window becomes available. The value shown is the average elevation value of all nodes in the selected elements. If this value is changed, the new value will be assigned to all nodes attached to the selected elements. Caution must be used when changing node elevations in this manner. Do not create large flat areas where surrounding elements may become dry because this can cause ponds to form when the finite element analysis is performed.

With one element selected, the Edit Window shows the element id number, its type, and its area. With multiple elements selected, the Edit Window shows the number of selected elements and their combined area.

Create Elements

Most elements in SMS will be created using automatic mesh generation techniques. At times, however, it is necessary to manually create a single element or a small group of elements.

Although SMS supports various types of elements, only those element types supported by the current numerical model will be available in the tool palette. UGrids only support linear element types.

The following linear elements are supported:

• 3-node triangles
• 4-node quadrilaterals

To create a single linear or quadratic element:

1. Select the tool which corresponds with the type of element to be created.
2. Click on the corner nodes which will make the element, one-by-one. Do not click midside nodes. As each node is clicked, it becomes highlighted in red.
3. Alternatively, a box can be dragged around the corner nodes which will make the element. A beep will sound if the box does not surround the exact number of corner nodes required by the selected tool.

Before a new element is created, SMS performs the following quality checks:

• The new element cannot overlap other elements.
• A quadrilateral element cannot twist or overlap itself.
• A quadrilateral element cannot be concave.

If any of the these fails, the new element is not created.

Select Nodestrings

The Select Nodestrings tool is used to select nodestrings. When this tool is chosen, a small icon appears near the center of each nodestring. A nodestring is selected by clicking inside this icon. A second nodestring can be added to the selection list by holding the SHIFT key while selecting it. Multiple nodestrings can be selected by dragging a box around their icons. A selected nodestring can be deselected by holding the SHIFT key as its icon is clicked.

When nodestrings are selected, the Z Coordinate field in the Edit Window becomes available. The value shown is the average elevation value of all nodes in the selected nodestrings. If this value is changed, the new value will be assigned to all nodes in the selected nodestrings.

With one nodestring selected, the Edit Window shows the number of nodes in the nodestring, its type, and its length. With multiple nodestrings selected, the Edit Window shows the number of selected nodestrings and their total length.

Create Nodestrings

The Create Nodestrings tool is used to create node string. Nodestrings are used for operations such as assigning boundary conditions, forcing breaklines into the UGrid, and renumbering the UGrid. To create a nodestring:

1. Click on a node. The node will be highlighted in red and a prompt will be shown in the Help Window.
2. Click on any node to add it to the nodestring. The selected node is also highlighted in red and a solid red line is drawn between the two nodes. Continue adding nodes to the nodestring in this manner.
   1. Note: For most operations, nodes in the nodestring should be adjacent, but this is not required. A breakline, for example, will usually be made of nodes which are not adjacent.
   2. Press the BACKSPACE key to backup one node. Press the ESC key to abort the nodestring creation.
   3. Double-click a node or press the ENTER key to end the nodestring creation.
3. The SHIFT and CTRL keys assist in creating large nodestrings which are made up of adjacent nodes. These can be used after at least one node has been selected and function as follows:
   1. SHIFT. Holding down the SHIFT key and selecting another node will add to the nodestring all nodes between the two. The path chosen is the shortest distance between the two nodes. This is useful for creating continuity strings which run along a cross section of the UGrid.
   2. CTRL. Holding down the CTRL key and selecting another node will add to the nodestring all nodes on the UgGid boundary between the two, going counter clockwise from the first node to the second node. Both nodes must be on the boundary of the UGrid or SMS will beep.
   3. CTRL + SHIFT. Holding down both the CTRL and SHIFT keys and selecting another node will add to the nodestring all nodes on the UGrid boundary between the two, going clockwise from the first node to the second node. Both nodes must be on the boundary of the UGrid or SMS will beep.

Swap Edges

The Swap Edges tool is used to manually swap the edges of two adjacent triangles. This is useful in such cases as preserving a geometrical feature in the mesh or avoiding an artificial dam in a channel.

Two adjacent triangles form a quadrilateral with an element edge down one diagonal. When the diagonal is clicked, it gets swapped to the other diagonal, as long as the quadrilateral is not concave.

UGrid Display Options

Display Options dialog showing UGrid options

The properties of the Ugrid data SMS displays on the screen can be controlled through the Display Options dialog. The entities associated with the UGrid module with display options are shown below. Some of these entities also have an associated Options button. For these entities, additional display options are available. The available mesh display options include the following:

• Nodes – A circle is filled around each node. It's possibly to specify the radius and color of these circles.
• Edges – The edges of all elements in the UGrid.
• Contours – The UGrid contours are drawn for the active scalar dataset. Use the Contours tab to change contour options.
• Vectors – The UGrid vectors are drawn for the active vector dataset. Use the Vectors tab to change vector options.
• Boundary – A line is drawn around the perimeter of the UGrid.
• Nodestrings – The color in which a nodestring is drawn depends upon its type. Unassigned nodestrings are drawn in the color/thickness/style shown at the left of the toggle box.
• Functional Surface – Show surfaces representing one of the functional datasets associated with a mesh, grid or TIN. Clicking the Options button will open the Functional Surface Options dialog.
• 3D Fences – Requires a coverage with an arc containing only a single segment. Clicking the Coverage button allows selecting the desired coverage if there is more than one coverage with a single segment arc, otherwise SMS will automatically select a qualifying coverage.

UGrid Interpolation

The UGrid Interpolation Options dialog

UGrids elevation data can be converted to other data types. Right-click on the UGrid object in the Project Explorer and select the Interpolate to command. Select the interpolation method and options in the Interpolation Options dialog.

UGrid data can be interpolated to the following data types:

• 1D grid
• 2D scatter
• 2D mesh
• Cartesian grid
• Quadtree

Interpolation methods available for UGrid data includes:

• Linear
• Inverse distance weighted
• Natural neighbor

The Options button next to the Interpolation method will open a dialog that allows truncating the interpolation values.

Related Topics

• Modules