Product: Abaqus/CAE
Benefits: You can now easily select element rows or layers.
Description: The new topology selection method allows you to select entire rows or layers of elements from a structured mesh with a single click. When you are performing a task that allows you to pick multiple elements, the list of selection methods in the prompt area includes by topology. To select elements, click on an element face in a three-dimensional structured mesh to select a row of elements. Click on an element edge in a three-dimensional structured mesh to select an entire layer of elements. In a two-dimensional structured mesh, click on an element edge to select a row of elements—there are no layers in a two-dimensional mesh. Figure 4–14 shows the selection by topology of an internal row and layer of elements. Without selection by topology, selection of a curved row of interior elements such as that on the left in the figure would be much more difficult.
You can use selection by topology to select elements from other types of meshes. However, without the clearly defined rows and layers of a structured mesh, the selections will be less predictable. In some cases, such as with a tetrahedral mesh, topology selection may be limited to only those elements that share the edges that you selected.Mesh module: Various procedures: Select by topology from the element selection methods in the prompt area
