You can define the element size along selected edges by entering the number of elements to create. Abaqus/CAE allows you to select edges, faces, or cells to seed. However, seeds are positioned only along edges—the edges that you select or the edges of faces and cells that you select.
All the edge seeding tools generate edge seeds, which are displayed in magenta. Edge seeds override any part or instance seeds you have specified. You should apply seeds to all edges.
To seed an edge by prescribing the number of elements:
From the main menu bar, select Seed
Edges.
Abaqus/CAE displays prompts in the prompt area to guide you through the procedure.
Tip:
You can also seed an edge by prescribing the number of elements using the 
tool, located with the seed tools in the Mesh module toolbox. (For more information, see “Using the Mesh module toolbox,” Section 17.15.)
Select the edges, faces, or cells you want to seed.
By default, Abaqus/CAE allows you to select only edges to seed. To select faces or cells to seed, use the Selection toolbar to change the type of object that you can select to Face, Cells, or All. For more information, see “Filtering your selection based on the type of object,” Section 6.3.2.
When you have finished selecting edges, faces, or cells, click Done in the prompt area. For more information on selecting objects, see Chapter 6, “Selecting objects within the viewport.”
From the Local Seeds dialog box that appears, choose By number.
Note: If you selected edges that you previously seeded using a combination of seeding methods, Abaqus/CAE provides an As Is option that allows you to retain the seeding method on the selected edges.
Enter the number of elements that Abaqus should generate along each edge.
Choose a bias control of None.
If desired, change the default seed constraints on the Constraints tabbed page. See “Applying constraints to edge seeds,” Section 17.16.5, for further information on setting seed constraints.
If desired, toggle on Create set with name to create a set containing the edges, faces, and cells you selected and enter the name of the set. If you subsequently want to change the seeding, you can select the set in Step 2 without having to reselect the edges, faces, and cells.
Click Apply to view the seeding that Abaqus/CAE will use.
Magenta seeds appear on the selected edges.
If necessary, adjust the values that you entered in the Local Seeds dialog box.
Click OK to commit the element seeding and to close the dialog box.
