Mesh Control Parameters

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The names MESH_SPACING and MESH_DENSITY have special meaning in controlling the initial mesh layout. They may appear in the context of a parameter definition or redefinition (ie, in the DEFINITIONS section or in a REGION), or in the context of a boundary condition.

MESH_SPACING dictates the desired spacing between mesh nodes.

MESH_DENSITY is the reciprocal of MESH_SPACING, and dictates the desired number of mesh nodes per unit distance.

Appearing in the DEFINITIONS section, these parameters specify a global default mesh density function in the volume of the domain.

Appearing in a REGION, these parameters specify a mesh density function in the volume of the current region (in 3D they may be qualified by LAYER or SURFACE).

Appearing in the context of a boundary condition (ie, inside a path) they dictate the mesh density along the curve or sidewall surface currently being defined. In 3D they may be qualified by LAYER or SURFACE to restrict the application of the density function.

MESH_SPACING and MESH_DENSITY specifications may be any function of spatial coordinates (but not of VARIABLES).

If more than one specification is active in a part of the mesh, the control resulting in the smallest mesh cells will be used.

Examples:

MESH_DENSITY = exp(-(x^2+y^2+z^2)

This will create a Gaussian density distribution around (0,0,0), with spacing ultimately overridden by the size limit implied by NGRID.

See the User Guide section "Controlling Mesh Density" for more information.