CE 72.

12 Finite Element Methods in Engineering

Lecture 14: Meshing in FEM
Semester – January 2022

Dr. Chaitanya Krishna

Department of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering
School of Engineering and Technology (SET)

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Introduction 3

• In most engineering problems, we need to find the

values of a field variable such as displacement, stress,
temperature, pressure, and velocity as a function of
spatial coordinates (x, y, z)
• The geometry (domain or solution region) of the
problem is often irregular.
• The first step of the finite element analysis involves the
discretization of the irregular domain into smaller and
regular subdomains, known as finite elements

This is equivalent to replacing the domain having an infinite number of degrees

of freedom (dof) by a system having a finite number of dof

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How? 4

• Different methods of dividing the domain into finite

elements involve varying amounts of computational time
and often lead to different approximations to the
solution of the physical problem
• The process of discretization is essentially an exercise of
engineering judgment.
• Efficient methods of finite element idealization require
some experience and knowledge of simple guidelines.
• For large problems involving complex geometries, finite
element idealization based on manual procedures
requires considerable effort and time on the part of the
analyst Some automatic mesh generation programs have been developed for
the efficient idealization of complex domains requiring minimal
interface with the analyst.
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Basic Element Types 5

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Element Size 6

• The size of elements influences the convergence of the

solution directly, and hence it has to be chosen with care.
• If the size of the elements is small, the final solution is
expected to be more accurate.
• However, we have to remember that the use of smaller-sized
elements will also mean more computation time.
• Sometimes, we may have to use elements of different sizes in
the same body.

steep gradients of the field variable➔ use a finer mesh 19 March 2023
Location of Nodes 7

• Uniform node spacing for bodies with:

• Smooth geometry
• Consistent material properties
• Constant external conditions
• Introduce additional nodes for:
• Discontinuities in geometry
• Changes in material properties
• Variations in external conditions (e.g., load,
temperature)

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Number of Elements 8

• The number of elements to be

chosen for idealization is related
to the accuracy desired, size of
elements, and the number of dof
involved.
• Although an increase in the
number of elements generally
means more accurate results, for
any given problem, there will be a
certain number of elements
beyond which the accuracy
cannot be significantly improved
• Moreover, since the use of a large
number of elements involves a
large number of dof, we may not
be able to store the resulting
matrices in the available
computer memory
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Mesh Generation 9

• Mesh generation is the process of dividing a physical domain into

smaller subdomains (called elements) to facilitate an approximate
solution of the governing ordinary or partial differential equation.
• 1-D domains (straight or curved lines) are subdivided into smaller line
segments
• 2-D domains (planes or surfaces) are subdivided into triangle or
quadrilateral shapes
• 3-D domains (volumes) are subdivided into tetrahedron and hexahedron
shapes
• If the physical domain is simple and the number of elements used
is small, mesh generation can be done manually.
• However, most practical problems, such as those encountered in
aerospace, automobile, and construction industries have complex
geometries that require the use of thousands and sometimes
millions of elements.
• In such cases, the manual process of mesh generation is
impossible and we have to use automatic mesh generation
schemes based on the use of a CAD or solid modeling package.

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(Major)Types of Meshes 10

• Structured Mesh
• Unstructured Mesh
• Hybrid Mesh
• Adaptive Mesh
• Cartesian Mesh

• Each type of mesh has its own advantages and

limitations, and the choice of mesh depends on factors
such as the complexity of the geometry, the desired
accuracy, and the computational resources available.

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Structured Mesh 11

• Consists of a regular grid of

elements
• Elements have uniform shape
and size
• Simple connectivity and easy
to generate
• Ideal for problems with simple
geometries
• Mostly composed of
quadrilateral elements in 2D
and hexahedral elements in 3D

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Unstructured Mesh 12

• Comprises irregularly shaped and

sized elements
• Complex connectivity and more
flexible
• Suitable for problems with
complex geometries or irregular
boundaries
• Can be composed of various
element types, such as triangles or
quadrilaterals in 2D and
tetrahedra, hexahedra, or hybrid
elements in 3D

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Hybrid Mesh 13

• Combines different types of elements in a single mesh

• Can include triangles and quadrilaterals in 2D or
tetrahedra, hexahedra, pyramids, and wedges in 3D
• Offers flexibility and adaptability to complex geometries
• Can provide improved accuracy and computational
efficiency in some cases

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Adaptive Mesh 14

• Adjusts element size and

distribution based on the
specific problem or solution
• Refines (adds elements) in
regions with high gradients or
complex features
• Coarsens (removes elements) in
regions with less critical
information
• Balances accuracy and
computational cost
• Can be applied to both
structured and unstructured
meshes

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Cartesian Mesh (Axis-Aligned Mesh) 15
• A type of structured mesh that aligns elements with the
Cartesian coordinate system
• Consists of axis-aligned quadrilateral elements in 2D or
hexahedral elements in 3D
• Simple connectivity and efficient for certain types of problems
• Requires additional techniques (e.g., cut-cells, embedded
boundaries) for handling complex geometries

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Boundary of Cartesian Mesh 16

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Automatic Mesh Generation 17

• Essential step in numerical

simulations (e.g., FEA, CFD)
• Converts complex geometries
into manageable discretized
domains
• Facilitates problem-solving by
approximating continuous fields
• Balances mesh quality, accuracy,
and computational efficiency
• Variety of meshing algorithms for
different applications
• Supports 1D, 2D, and 3D domains
with various element types
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Automatic Mesh Generation Process 18

• Subdivide domain into nodes & elements for

accurate representation
• Domain: Curve, surface, or solid (from CAD or
solid modeling)
• Mesh generation process:
• Place nodes at corner points
• Distribute nodes along geometric curves (boundary
definition)
• Use boundary nodes to develop surface nodes
• Employ surface nodes to generate volume nodes
(domain filling)
• Considerations: element shape, size restrictions,
and mesh quality
• Element types:
• 1D: line elements for curve domains
• 2D: triangular or quadrilateral elements for surface
domains
• 3D: tetrahedral or hexahedral elements for solid
domains

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Automatic Mesh Generators 19

• Essential for effective FEM analysis

• Simplifies complex geometries into manageable
elements
• Two widely used techniques:
• Tessellation and
• Octree

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Tesselation Method 20

• Generates a mesh with interconnected simple shapes

• Involves three key steps:
• Outline geometry boundaries
• Distribute points within the domain
• Connect points to form elements
• Benefits:
• Straightforward approach
• Versatile for various geometries
• Produces high-quality meshes
• Drawbacks:
• Difficulty in controlling element size and shape

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Octree Method 21

• Hierarchically subdivides the domain into smaller

elements
• Involves three key steps:
• Surround the geometry with a bounding box
• Repeatedly divide the bounding box into smaller sections
• Extract the final mesh from subdivided sections
• Benefits:
• Offers precise control over element size and shape
• Adapts to the specific requirements of the problem
• Drawbacks:
• Requires more computational resources
• Can produce a large number of elements, especially in 3D

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Tesselation and Octree 22

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Meshing Softwares

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Gmsh 24

• Open-source, versatile, and user-friendly

• Creates 2D and 3D meshes for FEA, CFD, and other
simulations
• Built-in CAD modeler and external CAD file import support
• Generates structured and unstructured meshes with various
element types
• Offers visualization, post-processing, and scripting
capabilities
• Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux) and compatible
with numerous simulation software and solvers

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Gmsh - Geometry and Preparation 25

• Step 1: Create or Import Geometry

• Option 1: Create geometry using Gmsh's built-in CAD modeler by
defining points, lines, surfaces, and volumes.
• Option 2: Import an existing geometry from an external CAD file
(e.g., STEP, IGES, BREP).
• Step 2: Define Physical Entities
• Assign physical entities to the geometry components (points, lines,
surfaces, and volumes) that you want to include in the mesh.
• Physical entities help to group elements and assign boundary
conditions or material properties in the simulation software.
• Step 3: Set Meshing Parameters
• Choose the meshing algorithm for your problem (e.g., Delaunay,
frontal, etc.).
• Define mesh element sizes and other meshing parameters, such as:
• Global mesh element size
• Local mesh element size at specific points, lines, or surfaces
• Mesh refinement factors
• Smoothing options

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Gmsh - Generation and Export 26

• Step 4: Generate Mesh

• Run the meshing algorithm to create a mesh based on the geometry, physical
entities, and meshing parameters.
• Gmsh will generate a mesh with 1D (line), 2D (triangle or quadrilateral), or 3D
(tetrahedron, hexahedron, etc.) elements, depending on the problem.
• Step 5: Inspect and Evaluate Mesh
• Use Gmsh's visualization tools to inspect the generated mesh and assess its
quality.
• Check for issues, such as:
• Poor element quality (e.g., distorted or elongated elements)
• Insufficient mesh resolution in critical areas
• Overlapping or intersecting elements
• Step 6: Refine Mesh (if needed)
• If the mesh quality is not satisfactory, adjust the meshing parameters or
geometry, and regenerate the mesh.
• Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the mesh meets the desired quality criteria.
• Step 7: Export Mesh
• Save the mesh in a suitable format for use in the simulation software (e.g.,
MSH, UNV, MED, etc.).
• The exported mesh file will contain information about the mesh elements,
nodes, and physical entities for use in the simulation.
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