Abaqus/CAE provides you with a variety of tools for controlling mesh characteristics:

• You can specify the density of a mesh by creating seeds along the edges of the model to indicate where the corner nodes of the elements should be located. For example, Figure 17–1 displays a model with biased seeding along the top and left edges.

  Figure 17–1 A model with biased seeding.

  

  For more information, see “Understanding seeding,” Section 17.4.

• You can select the shape of the mesh elements. For example, Figure 17–2 shows a model that has been meshed first with quadrilateral elements and then with triangular elements.

  Figure 17–2 Two meshes with different element shapes.

  

  For more information, see “Assigning Abaqus element types,” Section 17.5.

• You can choose the meshing technique—free, structured, or swept—and, where applicable, you can choose the meshing algorithm—medial axis or advancing front. For more information, see “Mesh generation,” Section 17.3.3.

• You can select the element type that is assigned to the mesh by choosing the element family, geometric order, and shape along with specific element controls, such as hourglassing. For more information, see “Understanding mesh generation,” Section 17.7.

• “Understanding seeding,” Section 17.4

• “Assigning Abaqus element types,” Section 17.5

• “Verifying and improving meshes,” Section 17.6