What are the advantages and disadvantages of using different types of mesh for mold flow analysis?

1 What is mesh and why does it matter?

Mesh is a network of nodes and elements that represents the geometry of your mold and part. It is the basis of any mold flow analysis, as it determines how the software will solve the equations of fluid dynamics and heat transfer. The quality and size of your mesh can have a significant impact on the accuracy, speed, and stability of your simulation.

2 What are the different types of mesh?

There are two main types of mesh that are commonly used for mold flow analysis: structured and unstructured. Structured mesh consists of regular and uniform elements, such as hexahedra or tetrahedra, that are aligned with the geometry of your model. Unstructured mesh consists of irregular and variable elements, such as triangles or prisms, that can adapt to the shape and complexity of your model.

3 What are the advantages of structured mesh?

Structured mesh offers several benefits compared to unstructured mesh. For example, it is easier to generate and control, as you can define the number and size of elements in each direction. Furthermore, it has a lower computational cost, as it requires fewer nodes and elements to cover the same volume. Additionally, structured mesh has a higher accuracy and stability, which minimizes numerical errors and convergence problems.

4 What are the disadvantages of structured mesh?

Structured mesh has some drawbacks, such as a lack of flexibility and adaptability, as it is unable to conform to curved or complex surfaces without increasing the number of elements or introducing gaps or overlaps. Additionally, it is more likely to experience distortion and deformation, as it cannot accommodate changes in the geometry or boundary conditions without compromising the quality of the mesh. Lastly, it is more difficult to refine and optimize, as manual adjustments or remeshing is needed to improve the resolution or accuracy of the simulation.

5 What are the advantages of unstructured mesh?

Unstructured mesh offers several advantages over structured mesh, such as being more flexible and adaptable to any shape or complexity of your model without creating gaps or overlaps. It is also less prone to distortion and deformation, as it can accommodate changes in the geometry or boundary conditions without affecting the quality of the mesh. Additionally, unstructured mesh is easier to refine and optimize, allowing for automatic or local adjustments or remeshing to improve the resolution or accuracy of the simulation.

6 What are the disadvantages of unstructured mesh?

Unstructured mesh also has some disadvantages, such as difficulty in generating and controlling due to the inability to specify the number and size of elements in each direction. It also has a higher computational cost, as it requires more nodes and elements to cover the same volume, resulting in lower accuracy and stability due to numerical errors and convergence problems.