Agent skill
abaqus-mesh
Generate finite element meshes. Use when user mentions mesh, elements, nodes, refine mesh, mesh size, or asks about element types like C3D8R, C3D10, S4R.
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/tree/main/skills/data/abaqus-mesh
SKILL.md
Abaqus Mesh Skill
Generate finite element meshes for Abaqus models. Discretizes geometry into elements and nodes for analysis.
When to Use This Skill
Route here when user mentions:
- "Mesh the part", "generate mesh"
- "Element size", "mesh size", "refine mesh"
- "Element type", "C3D8R", "C3D10", "S4R"
- "Too many nodes", "Learning Edition limit"
- "Mesh quality", "check elements"
Route elsewhere:
- Creating or modifying geometry →
/abaqus-geometry - Creating partitions for loads/BCs →
/abaqus-geometry - Extracting mesh-based results →
/abaqus-odb
Prerequisites
Before meshing:
- Geometry must be complete
- Sections should be assigned (material assignment)
Workflow: Generating a Mesh
Step 1: Understand User's Goal
Ask if unclear:
- Target mesh size? Coarse (fast) or fine (accurate)?
- Hex or tet elements? Simple geometry → hex; complex → tet
- Local refinement? Stress concentrations need finer mesh
Step 2: Choose Element Type
| Geometry | Recommended | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple box/prism | Hex, reduced | C3D8R | Fast, accurate, try first |
| Complex freeform | Tet, quadratic | C3D10 | Meshes anything |
| Thin-walled (t/L < 0.1) | Shell | S4R | Plates, shells |
| Slender beams (L/d > 10) | Beam | B31 | Frames, trusses |
Decision guidance:
- Can it be hex-meshed? → Try C3D8R first
- Complex shape or holes? → Use C3D10 (tet)
- Thin structure? → Use S4R shell
- Explicit dynamics? → C3D8R works well
Step 3: Choose Mesh Size
| Use Case | Element Size | Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Quick feasibility | 10-20mm | 5+ elements across model |
| General analysis | 3-5mm | 10+ elements across smallest dimension |
| Stress concentrations | 1-2mm | 5+ elements in high-gradient regions |
| Topology optimization | 2-5mm | 3-5 elements across expected members |
Rule of thumb: At least 3 elements across any feature you care about.
Step 4: Check Learning Edition Limits
Learning Edition allows max 1000 nodes.
| Box Dimensions (mm) | Max Element Size |
|---|---|
| 100 x 100 x 100 | 20mm |
| 100 x 50 x 30 | 10mm |
| 50 x 50 x 50 | 12mm |
| 200 x 100 x 50 | 25mm |
Estimation formula: nodes ≈ (L/size + 1) × (W/size + 1) × (H/size + 1)
Step 5: Apply Local Refinement (If Needed)
Refine mesh near:
- Holes and notches (stress concentrations)
- Fillets and sharp corners
- Load/BC application points
Options:
- Edge seeds with smaller size
- Edge seeds with specific element count
- Biased mesh (graded density)
Step 6: Generate and Verify
After mesh generation, check:
- Node count within limits
- Element count reasonable
- No mesh quality warnings
- Elements exist in all regions
Element Type Reference
3D Solid Elements
| Code | Type | Nodes | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3D8R | Hex, reduced | 8 | General purpose (recommended) |
| C3D8 | Hex, full | 8 | Bending-dominated, no hourglass |
| C3D20R | Hex, quadratic | 20 | High accuracy, expensive |
| C3D4 | Tet, linear | 4 | Complex geometry (less accurate) |
| C3D10 | Tet, quadratic | 10 | Complex geometry (better accuracy) |
Shell Elements
| Code | Type | Nodes | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4R | Quad, reduced | 4 | General purpose (recommended) |
| S4 | Quad, full | 4 | No hourglass |
| S3 | Triangle | 3 | Complex surfaces |
Mesh Quality Guidelines
| Metric | Target | Warning | Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | < 5:1 | 5-10:1 | > 10:1 |
| Jacobian | > 0.5 | 0.1-0.5 | < 0.1 |
| Min angle (quad) | > 45° | 30-45° | < 30° |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "Cannot mesh region" | Geometry too complex for hex | Switch to TET with FREE technique |
| "Element distortion" | Poor element shapes | Refine locally or fix geometry |
| "Exceeded node limit" | Mesh too fine | Increase element size |
| "No mesh controls" | Missing mesh technique | Set mesh controls before generating |
| Mesh won't generate | Gaps in geometry | Check geometry, merge if needed |
Code Patterns
For API syntax and code examples, see:
- API Quick Reference
- Common Patterns
- Element Library
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