Shrink Wrap Mesh

Shrink Wrap meshing is a method to create a simplified mesh of a complex model when high-precision models are not necessary.  This is often the case for power train components during crash analysis. The model's size, mass, and general shape remains, but the surface features and details are simplified, which can result in faster analysis computation.  You can determine the level of detail retained by determining the mesh size to use, among other options. The key options are:

• Both solids and surfaces are valid as input to the shrink wrap – it is no longer necessary to mesh the model beforehand.
• Shrink Wrap meshing has been improved for loose and tight algorithms by improving the mesh flow and uniformity of the resulting mesh.
• Feature recognition for tight wrap is automatic; no need to manually define features.
• New “generate solid mesh” option has been introduced to provide a hexa only voxel output. A jacobian parameter is definable to control the quality of the hexa mesh.
• New “mesh orientation” option is available to control the resulting shell/solid mesh which will be orientated to either the global or user defined local system.

Panel Options and Settings
The Shrink Wrap function can be accessed through the pull-down menu through Mesh > Create > Shrink Wrap Mesh and the panel shown below will open.

Shrink Wraps can be generated using two algorithms: Loose or Tight.  These determine how closely the resulting mesh adheres to the details of the underlying model, and are best suited to different use cases which will vary for any given use.

• Loose Shrink Wrap - generate a loose-fitting shrink wrap mesh that generally conforms to the model.
• Tight Shrink Wrap - generate a tight-fitting mesh that adheres closely to the underlying model, capturing as many features as possible.

The panel options for both Loose and Tight are the same and are as follows:

• Comps – Selection of the comps, elems, surfs or solids used to create the shrink wrap mesh.
• element size= - Sets the desired target element size for the shrink wrap mesh.
• generate solid mesh  - If selected, HyperMesh creates a solid hexa mesh under the 2d shell mesh.
• mesh orientation - Switch to choose element orientation with the global system or previously created local system.