Mesh setup

If required, more than finite element may be generated on a single 1D member. The value here specifies how many finite elements should be created on a straight 1D member.

The value is taken into account only if the original 1D member is longer than adjusted minimal length of beam element and shorter than adjusted maximal length of beam element.

This option is useful mainly for stability, non-linear and dynamic calculations where more than one finite element is required per a structural member.

The average size of edge for 2D mesh elements. The size defined here may be altered through refinement of the mesh in specified points.

If the distance between a definition point (a structural node) and a definition line (2D member edge or 1D member centre line) is lower that the value specified here, a mesh node in the definition point and a mesh node on the definition line are automatically merged into a single mesh node.

Automatic:

The mesh size is determined automatically according to the model

Manual:

This size is applied only to FEM method calculation of load panels and for the generation of loads for individual beams or edges.

This mesh is not used for the main calculations of the whole model.

(available for Manual definition in the item above)

Defines the mesh size for load panels.

If a 1D member of a structure is shorter than the value here specified, then the 1D member is no longer divided into multiple finite elements even though the parameter above (Average number of tiles of 1D element) says so.

If a 1D member of a structure is longer than the value here specified, then the 1D member will be divided into multiple finite elements so that the condition of maximal length is satisfied.

It is necessary to generate more than one finite element on cables, tendons (prestressed concrete) and 1D members on subsoil.

For more information about this issue see book Advanced calculations, chapter Analysis of a beam on elastic foundation versus mesh size.

NOTE: This parameter also controls the size of finite elements for beams with a phased cross-section.

If this option is ON, a check for "touching" 1D members is performed. If an end node of one 1D member "touches" another 1D member in a point where there is no node, the two 1D members are connected by a FE node.

If the option is OFF, such a situation remains unsolved and the 1D members are not connected to each other.

The function has the same effect as performing function Check of data.

If this option is ON, finite elements nodes are generated in points where concentrated load is acting.

This option is not normally required and it is off as default.

If a beam is of variable height, the generator automatically generates eccentric finite elements along the haunch.

Moreover, if this option is ON, the eccentricity of the elements may vary along the element, i.e. the start-node of the element may have different eccentricity than the end-node of the element.

If this option is off, the eccentricity along individual finite elements is constant and the eccentricity changes in steps in nodes along the haunch.

Specifies the number of FE generated on a haunch.

Specifies the number of section which are generated on integration strip or on the beam after 2D-1D upgrade performance.

Specifies the mode of refinement on 1D members.

None

The refinement is applied to 2D members only.

Beams and columns

The refinement applied to 1D members the type of which is adjusted to "beam (80)" or "column (100)

All 1D members

The refinement applied to all 1D members.

If ON, the generator first tries to generate in every slab a regular quadrilateral finite element mesh complying with the adjusted element-size parameters. Only if required, additional necessary nodes are added to the mesh.

If OFF, the finite element mesh nodes are generated across the slab and the nodes are the elements are then created from the nodes.

This value determines whether a spatial quadrilateral whose nodes are not in one plane will be replaced by triangular elements. This parameter is meaningful only for out-of-plane surfaces – shells. The assessed angle is measured between the plane made of three nodes of the quadrilateral and the remaining node of this quadrilateral.

Defines the relative distance between the predefined mesh formed by regular quadrilateral elements and the nearest edge. The edge may consist of an internal edge, external edge or border of refined area. The final distance is calculated as a multiple of the defined ratio and adjusted average element size for 2D elements.