Concepts and model structure#

Model#

The Model class is the top-level container for PyPrimeMesh. It contains all information about the PyPrimeMesh session.

../_images/model_structure.png

Model structure#

This code shows how the Model class is accessed from the Client class:

import ansys.meshing.prime as prime

prime_client = prime.launch_prime()
model = prime_client.model

This code imports a CAD file containing a single part:

cad_file = prime.examples.download_elbow_scdoc()
params = prime.ImportCadParams(model)
prime.FileIO(model).import_cad(file_name=cad_file, params=params)

The code prints the Model class to obtain a summary of the current session:

>>> print(model)

    Part Summary:

    Part Name: flow_volume
    Part ID: 2
            13 Topo Edges
            9 Topo Faces
            1 Topo Volumes

            0 Edge Zones
                    Edge Zone Name(s) : []
            0 Face Zones
                    Face Zone Name(s) : []
            1 Volume Zones
                    Volume Zone Name(s) : [volume]

            2 Label(s)
                    Names: [inlet, outlet]

            Bounding box (-203.2 -228.6 -50.8)
                                     (203.2 203.2 50.8)

Parts#

Geometry topology and mesh data in the Model class is stored within any number of parts parameters:

model.parts

Each Part class can contain TopoEntities or zonelets. TopoEntities are TopoParts created from CAD geometry imports. Zonelets are mesh parts created from faceted geometry and mesh imports. TopoEntities and zonelets are characterized by the dimension of entities.

../_images/part_type.png

Part types#

TopoEntities#

TopoEntities are created from importing a CAD geometry and represent connectivity information. TopoEntities have geometric representation that can be defined by splines or facets. The mesh generated on TopoEntities are projected on the geometry representation.

There are four types of TopoEntities:

  • TopoNode: TopoEntity representing points

  • TopoEdge: TopoEntity representing curves

  • TopoFace: TopoEntity representing surfaces

  • TopoVolume: TopoEntity representing volumes

../_images/TopoEntities.png

TopoEntities schematic#

Zonelets#

Zonelets are created from importing mesh files and are groups of interconnected entities in a mesh.

There are three types of zonelets:

  • FaceZonelet: A group of interconnected faces

  • EdgeZonelet: A group of interconnected edges

  • CellZonelet: A group of interconnected cells

A volume is a set of face zonelets that define a closed volume without containing any cell elements.

../_images/Zonelets%282%29.png

Zonelets schematic#

Zones#

Zonelets or TopoEntities can be further grouped into zones. A zonelet or TopoEntity can only be present in a single zone.

When exporting a mesh (MSH or CAS) file to the Fluent solver, you should define the boundary conditions for the zones.

When importing a Fluent solver model, each zone is defined as a single zonelet.

Labels#

Labels allow overlapping groups of zonelets or TopoEntities.

When importing CAD files, each group or named selection generates a label.

When exporting to a Mechanical solver (CDB) file, each label is exported as a component.