Terminology

Description

Before beginning a general discussion of Pointwise’s GUI, we will first overview meshing terminology as it pertains to Pointwise.

• Entity: An entity is an individual grid or database element.

• Database: The database is CAD geometry imported from other sources or created directly within Pointwise. Used to control the shape of grid elements, but not necessary for mesh creation.

• Connector: A connector is a 1D grid element which forms the foundation for all other grid hierarchy.

• Domain: A domain is a 2D grid element which can be structured or unstructured.

• Block: A block is a 3D grid element which can be structured, unstructured or hybrid.

• Source: A source is a 1D, 2D or 3D entity which is independent of the grid and database, and which is used to locally define target unstructured block isotropic cell edge lengths.

• Spacing Constraint: The user defined grid point spacings adjacent to connector nodes.

• Dimension: The number of grid points assigned to a connector.

• Control Point: A control point is a user defined point specifying the shape of curve entities (connector or data base).

• Node: The first and last control points defining a connector are represented as filled circles called nodes.

• Edge: The boundary of a domain is referred to as an edge. There are exactly four edges bounding a structured domain. Unstructured domains have a single perimeter edge, and any interior holes will be additional edges.

• Face: The boundary of a block is referred to as a face. There are exactly six faces bounding a structured block. Unstructured blocks will have a single perimeter face which is closed, and any interior holes will be additional faces.