Ansys DesignModeler offers four methods for sharing topology, defined as a property of the part. Not all choices for the Shared Topology Method will be available, as the choices offered will depend on the types of bodies contained in the part.
Edge Joints are essentially coincident edge pairs that are tracked in the Ansys DesignModeler application. They are created automatically by several features, such as the Surfaces From Edges and Lines From Edges features. Edge joints can also be created by the Joint feature, where you choose a set of bodies to join together. Edges that are paired in an edge joint must belong to bodies that reside in the same part to share topology. During transfer of the model out of the Ansys DesignModeler application, each edge joint will combine its coincident source edges into a single edge. The edge joint method cannot be applied to Solid bodies.
Advantages: You can specifically choose which bodies join together in case they do not want topology shared among all regions of contact. Also, edge joints can be seen when the Show Edge Joints display option is enabled.
Disadvantages: More time consuming than the automatic method. Also edge joints can sometimes expire due to tolerance failures. Additionally, edge joint creation may depend on how your model is built.
This method shares topology automatically for all bodies in the part using a generalized Boolean operation. All common regions among the bodies in the part will be shared during transfer of the model out of the Ansys DesignModeler application. When using the automatic method, any edge joints that reference edges in the part are ignored. The automatic method cannot be applied to line bodies.
Advantages: Easy to use and faster than using edge joints. Also, it is not affected by the tolerance issues that can invalidate edge joints.
Disadvantages: There is no display of where the shared topology will be until after the Share Topology feature is applied. Sometimes you do not want topology shared throughout the entire part.
This method does not actually share topology, but rather imprints the bodies in the part with each other. It is often used when well-defined contact regions are desired among the bodies. The imprint method cannot be applied to line bodies.
Advantages: Allows for better contact regions in the Mechanical application. It is much easier to apply than manually imprinting bodies using other features.
Disadvantages: The mesh will not be continuous across the bodies in the part. Sometimes you do not want all bodies to be imprinted throughout the entire part.
The None method serves as a grouping mechanism. It does not share topology, nor imprint bodies. It allows you to group bodies together for either organizational purposes, or so that mesh controls may be applied to bodies within the part in the Mechanical application. This method may not be applied to line bodies.
Advantages: Lets you group bodies together for easier viewing or so that mesh controls can be applied among bodies in the part.
Disadvantages: The method does not share any topology among the bodies, nor will it imprint them.
In addition to the Shared Topology Method specified on the part, you may override the setting for individual bodies. This enables more customized control when sharing may not be desired throughout the entire part. For bodies, the Shared Topology Method property behaves as follows:
Default: Each body adopts the Shared Topology Method specified by its owning part.
Automatic: Bodies take part in topology sharing.
Imprint: Bodies do not share topology with any neighboring bodies, but are imprinted with their neighbors.
Edge Joints: Bodies share edge joints with other bodies that are also set to share via edge joints.
None: Bodies are not shared with any other bodies in the part.