Generate Finite-Element Model

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An alternative scenario is that we get clever and force C and D to be corner points. This can be done by dividing the geometry into three rectangles R1, R2 and R3as shown below. This will force nodes to be created at points C and D. Then, the point forces can be applied to these nodes. This is the strategy we'll use in creating the mesh.

Create Geometry

Under Mesh, click on Create CSGtool. This brings up the CSG Mesh Tool GUI.

Let's modify the drawing palette to help with the geometry creation. Turn on grid: Options > Grid

Enable snap to grid so that points are created exactly at grid points: Options > Snap

Wiki MarkupChange axes limits: *Options > Axes Limits* <span style="color: #660099">X-axis range</span>: {{\Limits
X-axis range: [-0.05 0.45\]}} <span style="color: #660099">Y-axis range</span>: {{\]
Y-axis range: [-0.05 0.1\]}}
Click *Apply* and then *Close*.&nbsp; 

Increase number of grid lines: Options > Grid Spacing ...
Unselect Auto for both x and y linear spacing.
Change X-axis linear spacing to 0.025 while retaining the axis limits: -0.05:0.025:0.45
Similarly, change Y-axis linear spacing to 0.01.
Click Apply and then Done.

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Create rectangle R1: Draw > Rectangle/Square
Click approximately near (0,0) and (0.1,0.05). Don't worry about getting these points exactly right since we will edit the coordinate values as below:
Double-click on R1
Left: 0
Bottom: 0
Width: 0.1
Height: 0.05
OK

Create rectangle R2: Note the row of icons below the menu options at the top. This is referred to as the toolbar. The icons in the toolbar offer shortcuts to options in the menus.

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offers a shortcut for creating a rectangle and is equivalent to the menu option we used for creating R1. Click on the rectangle icon. Click approximately near (0.1,0) and (0.3,0.05) to create R2. Modify coordinates:
Double-click on R2
Left: 0.1
Bottom: 0
Width: 0.2
Height: 0.05
OK

Look below the toolbar. You should see Set formula: R1+R2
You can go in and edit this formula. This facility allows you to arbitrarily add or subtract geometric components as necessary to create the final geometry.

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Create rectangle R3 by copying R1:
Select R1 by clicking once on it.
Copy R1: Edit > Copy
Paste R1: Edit > Paste ...
X-axis displacement: 0.3
OK

You should see that R3 has been added to Set formula.

Check Boundaries

Click on the boundary icon:

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Note that the manual for the CSG Tool can be accessed by selecting the Help button in the GUI.

Export Mesh

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This puts you back in the main redAnTS GUI. We see under Current Settings that the beam_mesh.dat file is loaded. To plot the mesh in this GUI, click on the drop-down menu under Plotting and select Mesh.

Let's move on to Step 3 where we will specify inputs such as material properties and boundary conditions.

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