Tool Options: Mesh Zipping Tab

Description

Options for background zipping operations that are triggered when using tools.

In the zipping process, clusters of nodes that are within a certain distance of each are used to calculate a new position for all those nodes, based on the Zip to... method selected. A new node, the merged node, is then created at that position. All elements connected to that cluster of nodes are then reconnected to the newly created node. Nodes in the cluster that are no longer connected to any element are deleted from the model.

The zipping distance is controlled by the Zip Tolerance, available in Tool Options: Tolerance Tab.

Dialog

Zip Mesh

Specifies when the zipping operation is undertaken.

• As needed

  Mesh zipping is performed in the background after using the tools.

• On request

  Mesh zipping is carried out only when the Clean Tools: Mesh tool is used.

Node Attribute

Specifies how node attributes are combined when multiple nodes are merged.

• Keep lower node

  Attributes on the lowest numbered node are transferred to the merged node. Attributes on the other merged nodes are deleted.

• Keep higher node

  Attributes on the highest numbered node are transferred to the merged node. Attributes on the other merged nodes are deleted.

• Accumulate

  Attributes from all nodes merged together are transferred to the merged node.

  Multiple attributes of the same type are accumulated.

Node Coordinates - Zip to...

Specifies how the merged node is positioned.

• Average

  The merged node is located at the Cartesian average of all nodes involved in the merge.

• Lower node

  The merged node is located at the position of the lowest numbered node.

• Higher node

  The merged node is located at the position of the highest numbered node.

• Selected node

  The merged node is located at the Cartesian average of all the selected nodes involved in the merge. If no node is selected within a merged set of nodes, the Average option is used.

Allow zero length beams

If set, beams of zero length are not deleted.

Allow zero length links

If set, links of zero length are not deleted.

See Also

• Tools: Clean