The Geometry group includes the following categories and preferences.
| Category | Preference | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Import | Assembly Hierarchy | For CAD files that include a hierarchical structure, specify whether to
automatically group parts and bodies under the Geometry object. Options include and
(default). Note: If you group parts and bodies in SpaceClaim, you need to account for shared topology and the fact that shared topology creates multi-body parts. In this instance, the application groups multi-body parts together regardless of the assembly structure. You can use the View Assembly Structure tool to see how the SpaceClaim assembly structure is affected by Shared Topology in Mechanical. See the SpaceClaim Documentation (Workbench > Shared Topology > Viewing Tools > View Assembly Structure) for more information. Caution: You cannot change the Assembly Hierarchy setting once you have imported your geometry. This is due to a geometry update limitation. |
| Volume Calculation | Define how the application performs volume calculations on the model. Options
include (default) and
. Using the
option, the volume is calculated using the faceted (graphical) representation of the
volume. This improves computation times. Note: The setting could be less accurate (~0.1% depending on rendering quality or facet quality value) than the setting. | |
| Delete Missing Named Selections from CAD | This preference controls how Mechanical treats Named Selections imported from an upstream CAD system. Options include (default) and . When set to , deleting a Named Selection in the upstream system also deletes the Named Selection in Mechanical once you refresh the geometry. Any object scoped to the deleted Named Selection becomes invalid. When set to , deleting a Named Selection in the upstream system suppresses the Named Selection in Mechanical once you refresh the geometry. Any object scoped to the suppressed Named Selection becomes invalid, however the object maintains the scoping reference. This enables you to recreate the Named Selection upstream and the application automatically reproduces downstream scoping once you refresh. | |
| Create AM Environment from CAD Data | Options include (default ) and . | |
| Geometry | Beam Cross Section (For Solver) | Define the default setting to send user-defined cross-sections to the Mechanical APDL solver as either a (default) cross-section or as a section. |
| Nonlinear Material Effects | Indicates if nonlinear material effects should be included or ignored. Options include (default ) and . | |
| Thermal Strain Calculation | Indicates if thermal strain calculations should be included or ignored. Options include (default ) and . | |
| 2D Tolerance | For surface bodies, use this preference to set the tolerance used to validate that the imported geometry is two-dimensional (2D) by checking the value of the Length Z property, using CAD units, in the Bounding Box category. The default value for this property is . | |
| 2D Axisymmetric Check | When you import a 2D geometry and set its Behavior property to Axisymmetric, Mechanical automatically performs a check to make sure that the geometry lies only on the positive X axis. Certain CAD applications can automatically increase bounding box values and cause a geometry to appear in the negative X plane. This generates a system error that prohibits you from executing a solution. This property enables you to change a system generated error to a warning. Options include (default) and . The setting enables the application to attempt a solution. | |
| Clear Mesh on Dimension Change | When you change the setting ( or ) of the Dimension property (Body object) or if you change the setting of the Analysis Type property of the Geometry cell on the Workbench project page, also or , this preference instructs the application whether to automatically clear and regenerate the mesh. | |
| Transform | Transform Mesh | This preference changes the default setting of the Transfer Mesh property of the Transforms object. Options include (default) and . |
| Create Connections | This preference changes the default setting of the Regenerate Contacts property of the Transforms object. Options include (default) and . | |
| Material | Prompt for Model Refresh on Material Edit | This preference relates to the material Assignment property. If you choose to edit a material or create/import a new material via this property, the application displays a message reminding you to refresh the Model cell in the Workbench Project Schematic. The default setting is . The message in Mechanical provides you with the option to not show the message again. This option is in addition to this method of changing this setting to |
| Assign Default Material to New Bodies Based on Update | This preference relates to the default setting of the Assign Default Material property. The Assign Default Material property controls default material assignment when geometry is updated in Mechanical. | |
| Geometry Based Associativity | Use Geometry Based Associativity | This preference instructs the application to retain available geometry data prior to a geometry update. Options include (default) and . |
| Automatic Scoping Update | This preference enables the application to automatically correct geometry-based scoping that becomes lost following a geometry update. Options include and (default). |