17.15.8 Sweep meshing a solid, revolved region whose profile touches the axis of revolution

In most cases it is not possible to sweep mesh a revolved solid region with all hexahedral elements if the profile that was revolved to create the region touches the axis of revolution. However, if the revolved region has a planar top face and a planar bottom face, such as the part instance shown below, you can create strategically placed partitions that allow you to mesh the region with all hexahedral elements using the swept meshing technique.

The partitioning technique involves dividing the part or part instance into two regions:

(For detailed information on sweep meshing solid regions, see Swept meshing of three-dimensional solids, Section 17.10.3.)

To partition a solid, revolved region for sweep meshing:

  1. Use the Partition toolset to create a cylidrical core at the center of the region. (For detailed information on partitions, see Chapter 44, The Partition toolset.”) The partitions creating the cylidrical core are outlined in red in the figure below.

    The cylidrical core is meshable using the extruded swept meshing technique and therefore becomes yellow. The outer region remains orange because it is still unmeshable.

    In the next step you will create additional partitions that allow ABAQUS/CAE to recognize the outer region as a revolved solid whose profile does not touch the axis of revolution.

  2. Use the Partition toolset to create whatever partitions are necessary to outline a revolution profile for the outer region. The profile will serve as the source side of the revolved mesh and will be swept along the circular edge defined by the cylindrical core to create the solid mesh.

    For example, partitions are used to outline the profile (shown in red) of the outer region in the figure below.

    Once the profile has been defined, both the cylidrical inner region and the outer region are colored yellow and are ready for sweep meshing.

    The resulting mesh is shown below.