Description
In a nutshell, the Split command is used to split a selected entity. The way in which an entity can be split and the options available in
the Split panel depend on the type of entity to be split. The table below presents the types of entities currently available for splitting:
Note: The Split command can process one entity at a time. This means that the command will become disabled if several
entities are selected at once.
Data Type |
Entity Type |
Database |
Curves, ruled
surfaces, surfaces of revolution, linear sweep
surfaces, fillet surfaces, Coons
patches, shells, quilts,
and models |
Grid |
Connectors, structured
domains, structured
blocks, unstructured
blocks, voxel blocks |
Source |
Curves |
For more information on the different entity types available in Fidelity Pointwise, please review the Terminology
and Data Hierarchy pages.
Tip: Note that when entities belonging to a group are split, the resulting entities will remain in the original group.
Splitting Curves
A connector, a database curve, or a source curve can be split in one of the following ways:
- At a specific location or nearest point on the selected entity (when the specified location does not lie on the entity itself)
- In a specific number of equal-length split pieces
- At a percentage of the curve's arc length
- At a control point's location
- At a grid point's location (connectors only)
- At a constant X, Y, or Z location
When one of these types of entity is selected for splitting, the presented Split panel will look as shown in the image below. Two frames group the
controls that will allow you to define how to split the selected entities: Split Location and Curve Options.
The Split panel that appears for connectors, database curves or source curves allows them to be split at arc length percentages, at specific locations, or in
a specific number of equal-length pieces.
The Split Location frame present options to explicitly define the location(s) at which the selected entity should be split.
- XYZ: Sets the XYZ coordinates of the point at which the entity will be split. If the entity is a domain or surface, the XYZ coordinates
will represent a point on the computational line along which it will be split. For blocks, the XYZ coordinates will represent a point on a computational plane
by which it will be split.
- Snap to Points: If checked on, this option allows to define the split point by selecting from the Display window the precise
location of an existing selectable point that lies on the entity being split.
- Advanced: This expandable frame contains the following less frequently used options by which the split location can be specified: XYZ
Offset, UV, UV Offset, IJK, IJK Offset, Normal Offset. These standard options are explained in detail in
the Point Placement section.
Tip: The split location can be explicitely defined using the options in the Split Location frame or it can be specified by selecting a point directly in the Display window.
In between the Split Location and Curve Options frames, you will find two additional options to manipulate a defined split point:
- Delete Last Point: Allows the last defined split location to be deleted from memory.
- Slide Point: Allows the last defined or selected split location to be moved in the Split Direction (not available when a connector
has been selected).
The Curve Options frame presents options to define the split location(s) based on the characteristics of curve being split.
- Number of Pieces: Allows to split the curve in a specified number of equal-length pieces.
- Percent of Length: Sets the split point to be a percentage of the arc length of the curve.
- Split Anywhere: Allows the split location to occur anywhere on the curve.
- Split Only at Control Points: Allows the split location to be constrained to control points only.
- Split Only At Grid Points: Allows the split location to be constrained to connector grid points only.
- Split Only At Coordinate: Allows the split location to occur at given X, Y, or Z locations.
Additional capability for splitting connectors, database curves, and source curves into a specific number of equal-length split pieces is provided by the
Split Into Pieces command located in the Edit toolbar:
. You can simply
select at least one connector or curve and enter a number into the text field on the toolbar to split the entity into that number of equal-length pieces. Keep
in mind that this toolbar feature allows you to split multiple connectors and curves at once each into the same number of equal pieces. You may need to use
the Customize command to add this control to your Edit toolbar.
Splitting Database Surfaces
The following types of database surfaces can be split using this feature: ruled
surfaces, surfaces of revolution, linear sweep
surfaces, fillet surfaces, and Coons patches. Furthermore, these types of surfaces
can be split at a certain location in a given parametric direction (i.e. U, V) and also along a discontinuity.
When one of these types of entities is selected for splitting, the Split panel will look as shown in the image below. Two frames group the control
that will allow you to define the location and direction of the split: Split Location and Split Direction.
The Split panel that appears for database surfaces allows one or more splits to occur in any of the UV parametric directions.
Note that the options contained in the Split Direction frame as well as the Delete Last Point and Slide Point options have been
described in the Splitting by Curve section above. The options presented in the Split At Discontinuities frame places points along the surface where
discontinuities are found. Last but not least, the option in the Split Direction frame are used to define the parametric direction of the split:
- U: Allows split locations to fall along lines of constant U on a database surface.
- V: Allows split locations to fall along lines of constant V on a database surface.
Splitting Database Quilts and Models
Database quilts formed by two or more underlying trimmed surfaces and
database models containing two or more quilts can be split into their constituent parts using this
command. Alternatively, you can use this command to split off a set of constituent trimmed surfaces from a quilt or a set of constituent quilts from a
model. When either a database quilt or a model is selected for split, the Split panel will look as shown in the image below.
Note: Selecting a database quilt formed by a single underlying trimmed surface or a database model containing a single database quilt
will not enable the Split command. This is due to the fact that such entities cannot be split into their constituent parts as each has a single
constituent part.
The Split panel that appears for database quilts (left) and models (right) provides the tools necessary to split these entities into their constituent parts
or to split off a set of constituent parts.
The only difference between these two panels is the checkbox options that will change depending on whether you are splitting a database quilt or a database
model. When a database quilt is selected, the Reassemble Into Quilts will allow you to reassemble the quilts remaining after the split operation
into as few quilts as possible. Likewise, when a database model is selected, the Reassemble Into Models option will allow you to reassemble the
models remaining after the split operation into as few models as possible.
Upon invoking the Split command, note that the boundaries of all the constituent parts of the selected database quilt or model are automatically
rendered in green color and are made selectable. This will aid in the quick selection of the parts that need to be split off from the database quilt or
model. The Split button will perform the split operation according to the current selection.
For example, if you would like to split a larger database quilt formed by multiple underlying trimmed surfaces into its constituent parts, you must select
the quilt to be split and access the command. As indicated, the boundaries of all the individual trimmed surfaces forming the larger quilt are rendered in green
and are made selectable. Simply select all the trimmed surfaces, make sure the Reassemble Into Quilts option is unchecked, and
click Split. Note that the larger quilt is split into its individual constituent parts.
To split off a set of database quilts from a larger quilt, you must select the larger quilt and access the command. Make sure the Reassemble Into
Quilts option is checked on, select the database quilts to be split off and click Split. Note that the selected constituent parts have been
split off from the larger database quilt and they have be reassembled into as few quilts as possible.
The processes to split a larger database model into its constituent parts or to split off a set of database quilts from a larger model are identical to what
was explained above for quilt split operations.
Splitting Database Shells
A database shell can be split along the intersection between the shell itself and a user-defined plane. When a
database entity of this type is selected for splitting, the Split panel will look as shown in the image below.
The Split panel that appears for database shells allows one or more splits to occur along the intersection between the shell and the specified planes.
Within the Split Shell panel, several options are provided to define the plane for splitting the selected shell. Please refer to
the Planes section for the discussion on the different Plane Modes: Point and Normal, Three
Points, Constant X, Y, or Z, and Coefficients. The Select A Plane mode allows for a
database plane to be selected directly in the Display window or
the List panel.
Splitting Structured Domains and Blocks
A structured domain or block can be split at a certain location in a given computational direction (i.e. I, J, K). When one of these types of entities is
selected for splitting, the presented Split panel will look as shown in the image below. Two frames group the controls that will allow you to define
the location and direction of the split: Split Location and Split Direction.
The Split panel that appears for structured domains (left) and blocks (right) allows one or more splits to occur in any of the IJ(K) computational coordinate
directions.
Note that the options contained in the Split Direction frame as well as the Delete Last Point and Slide Point options have been
described in the Splitting by Curve section above. The options presented in the Split Direction frame change depending on whether a structured domain
(IJ) or structured block (IJK) has been selected for splitting. These options are used to define the computational direction of the split:
- I: Allows split locations to fall along a line (or computational plane for blocks) of constant I computational coordinate.
- J: Allows split locations to fall along a line (or computational plane for blocks) of constant J computational coordinate.
- K: This option is available only when a structured block is selected for splitting. It allows split locations to fall along a computational
plane of constant K computational coordinate.
Splitting Unstructured and Voxel Blocks
A purely isotropic (i.e. without T-Rex cells) unstructured or voxel block can be split by specifying a physical distance from a group of selected target
domains. Moreover, when the block to be split contains anisotropic cells as well (i.e. with T-Rex cells), an additional option allows to define the split
location by specifying a given number of T-Rex layers off the selected target front composed of domains assigned to
T-Rex boundary conditions of type Wall.
Note: The minimum allowable Distance is computed in one of two ways: If the block being split has constituent domains
assigned to T-Rex boundary conditions of type Wall, this value is defined as the maximum initial spacing
(Δ) associated to those boundary conditions. On the other hand, if no constituent domains are assigned to at least
one Wall T-Rex boundary condition, the value is defined as the
average Edge Length of those domains.
When an unstructured or voxel block is selected for splitting, the Split panel will look as shown in the image below. Two frames group he controls
that will allow you to define how the split location should be determined: Split Type and either Select Target Domains (when
the Distance option is selected) or Select Target Fronts (when the T-Rex Layer option is selected).
The Split command for T-Rex blocks provides tools for splitting the T-Rex region away from the isotropic field. This can be accomplished by two different
types of split operations: split by Distance (left) and by T-Rex Layer (right). Note that the table at the top of the panel gets populated after the target
domains/fronts are selected.
Within the Split panel for unstructured and voxel blocks (shown above), you will find specialized tools for defining the split location by
specifying either a physical Distance from the selected target domains, or a specific T-Rex Layer Number off the target front. The latter
option will be unavailable for purely isotropic blocks.
The Split Type option selected by default is Distance (see left image above). This option will work for unstructured and voxel blocks with
and without T-Rex layers. Furthermore, when splitting a block with T-Rex layers, it is recommended to use the Distance option with a value slightly
outside the T-Rex maximum layer height to avoid cutting oddly through the T-Rex layers and the transitioning cells adjacent to them. To use this approach, you
must select the domains assigned to T-Rex boundary conditions of type Wall
as your target domains. This selection is accomplished by using the options in the Select Target Domains frame. Simply click Begin and note
that, by default, the original wall T-Rex fronts will populate the list that appears. You can also select the target domains directly from
the Display window or the List panel. Click End to finalize the target
domain selection.
Once the target domains have been defined, the table at the top of the Split panel will get populated with useful statics on the number of T-Rex
layers in the block as well as the total viscous layer height among other useful information (see image above). Using the listed Total Layer Height
as a reference, enter a slightly larger value into the Distance text field. Once the distance value is entered, a preview of the split location is
rendered in white in the Display window (see image below). Note that this preview can be turned off by unchecking Show Preview.
Click OK to perform the split operation. Two blocks will remain: one containing primarily the T-Rex layers and the other one containing the primarily
the isotropic field volume.
A wing-pylon-store T-Rex topology is shown before (left) and during (right) a split operation. Furthermore, the right image shows the preview of the split
location just outside the T-Rex layers.
When using the Split command for T-Rex blocks via the T-Rex Layer selection for Split Type, the Split panel will change
slightly (see right panel image above). Now the target fronts for the original T-Rex walls must be selected rather than any target domains. The Distance
field is replaced with a T-Rex Layer Number field, and that field is automatically populated with the total layer count for the selected fronts. So
basically the split location defaults to the uppermost T-Rex layer. Again, as with using the Distance option, the split location is previewed in
the Display window by default as shown in the images above.