By working with a mesh and not the solid model, the ANSYS Mesh Morpher allows parameterization of models created from CAD data, nonparametric geometry data such as IGES or STEP, or mesh files such as the ANSYS .cdb file. Read a mesh into FE Modeler and then create an initial configuration to synthesize geometry from the existing mesh.

At ANSYS 11.0, the ANSYS Mesh Morpher allows four different transformations:

• Face Translation
• Face Offset
• Edge Translation
• Edge Offset

A wide variety of configurations can be created with these transformations. For example, a Face Offset of a cylindrical surface is equivalent to changing the radius. These translations determine target configurations and automatically define transformation parameters.

Figure 1 and 2: Today it is quite common to go from CAD geometry to a finite element mesh. At ANSYS 11.0, within FE Modeler, a user can transform a mesh (above, left) into geometry (above, right) and then, with the ANSYS Mesh Morpher, make it parametric - thereby making design studies possible.

Figures 3 and 4: Using the ANSYS Mesh Morpher, dramatic changes (from left to right) like the diameter of the wheel, the thickness of the rim and the height of the mounting plate can be created on finite element models.

Why use the ANSYS Mesh Morpher?

• Very effective with legacy models; many projects re-use existing models
• To drastically reduce the amount of time it takes you to perform a design iteration
• To give you an advantage over those that use only the traditional process
• Very efficient with large models that are difficult to modify by any method

Applications

• Perform rapid modifications of a design (evolution of existing designs)
• Perform concepts analysis at the CAE level
• Explore many design alternatives