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FEM Mesh Region

In one sentence: Define a local mesh refinement region with a smaller element size around stress concentrations or areas of interest.

Overview

Workbench: FEM
Menu: FEM → Mesh → FEM Mesh Region

Defines a local mesh refinement region. Nodes within the region use a smaller element size than the global mesh.

When to use it

  • Stress concentrations: holes, fillets, notches, sharp re-entrant corners.
  • Contact zones.
  • Areas where temperature or potential gradients are steep.

Step-by-step

  1. Add a Mesh from Shape (Gmsh) or Mesh from Shape (Netgen) first.
  2. Choose FEM → Mesh → FEM Mesh Region.
  3. Select the face(s), edge(s), or vertex to refine around.
  4. Enter the local Max Element Size (smaller than the global size).
  5. Click OK and regenerate the mesh.

Common mistakes and pitfalls

Coarse mesh underestimates peak stresses

A uniform coarse mesh misses steep stress gradients at holes, fillets, and notches. Add a Mesh Region with at least 3–5× smaller element size at every stress concentration.

See also