Selecting a Physics Type

The physics type determines the default values for many of the global mesh options.

Many of the affected defaults are related to mesh sizing. An initial default size (calc_default_size) based on the diagonal of the selected body is calculated, but not exposed. Meshing uses it internally to determine other size defaults as noted in the tables below.

To select a physics type:

1. On the Mesh ribbon, click Physics Type.

2. Select Structural or Fluid Dynamics .

   If you enter SpaceClaim Meshing from Ansys Workbench or Ansys Mechanical, Structural defaults are set automatically.

   Option	Structural Sheet Default	Structural Solid Default
   Element shape	Quadrilateral Dominant	Quadrilateral Dominant, Hexahedral
   Blocking	Standard	Standard
   Element size	40% of calc_default_size	2 x calc_default_size
   Growth rate	1.8	1.8
   Curvature	Off	Off
   Minimum size (curvature)	4% of calc_default_size	4% of calc_default_size
   Normal angle	30	30
   Proximity	Off	Off
   Element order	Quadratic	Quadratic
   Shape checking	Structural (not exposed or modifiable)	Structural (not exposed or modifiable)

   If you enter SpaceClaim Meshing from Ansys Fluent or select Fluid Dynamics , these defaults are set automatically:

   Option	Fluid Dynamics Sheet Default	Fluid Dynamics Solid Default
   Element shape	Quadrilateral Dominant	Quadrilateral Dominant, Hexahedral
   Blocking	Standard	Standard
   Element size	40% of calc_default_size	2 x calc_default_size
   Growth rate	1.2	1.2
   Curvature	Off	Off
   Minimum size (curvature)	4% of calc_default_size	4% of calc_default_size
   Normal angle	18	18
   Proximity	Off	Off
   Element order	Linear (not exposed or modifiable)	Linear (not exposed or modifiable)
   Shape checking	CFD (not exposed or modifiable)	CFD (not exposed or modifiable)

Alternatively, set the default physics type in the SpaceClaim Options window.