Trelis Features

Trelis has many tools to import and prepare geometry for meshing. It automatically cleans up many cases of invalid geometry and topology when importing geometry models. You can collapse small curves and surfaces, or extend them to fill gaps. You can add geometric primitives to the model. You can do geometry boolean operations. To facilitate mesh generation, you can cut volumes with various tools. Trelis imprints and merges geometry to allow conformal meshing of complex assemblies.

Geometry Transforms

Bodies can be modified in Trelis using transform operations, which include align, copy, move, reflect, restore, rotate, and scale.

Boolean Operations

Trelis supports powerful boolean operations to intersect, subtract, and unite bodies.

Input/Output

Trelis supports the following formats:

• ACIS sat, sab: Geometry import/export
• Pro/E: geometry import/export
• Neutral formats: STEP, IGES
• Facet formats: STL, AVS, facet
• Exodus II: native mesh format
• Abaqus, Patran : mesh and boundary condition export.
• NASTRAN BDF, IDEAS Universal, Dyna3D, Fluent: mesh format export only
• Patran, Abaqus, Pro/E, IDEAS, Matlab, ANSYS and others.

One thing that sets Trelis apart from other meshing tools is its power tools. The power tools are useful tools to help users through the mesh generation process. They consist of

• Geometry Tree
• Diagnose Geometry
• Defeature Geometry
• Diagnose Meshability
• Diagnose Mesh Quality
• ITEM

Geometry Tree.

The Geometry Tree power tool contains a hierarchy of all the entities in the model. It includes assemblies, boundary conditions, groups, and geometry entities. Selecting an entity in the tree will select the same entity in the graphics window. The geometry tree's context menu is sensitive to the type of item and the number of items selected.

Click here to view the Geometry Tree

Diagnose Geometry and Defeature Geometry.

The Diagnose Geometry and Defeature Geometry power tools contains diagnostics and tools for analyzing and repairing geometry.

Diagnose Meshability and Diagnose Mesh Quality

The Diagnose Meshability power tool can be used to ensure the meshability of the model. After the mesh has been generated, the Diagnose Mesh Quality power tool can perform element quality checks. These checks will warn users of any elements that are below a default or user-specified threshold, allowing various visualization options for displaying element quality. If the current element quality is unacceptable, Trelis can present several possible mesh improvement solutions.

The Immersive Topology Environment for Meshing, or ITEM, contains a wizard-like environment which guides you through the mesh generation process using the other power tools to identify problems with the geometry and mesh and provides possible solutions with quick access to the features for solving those problems.

Use the ITEM Wizard to guide you through the meshing process.

• Import/Create Geometry
• Setup Model
• Prepare Geometry
• Mesh the Model
• Validate Mesh
• Define Boundary Conditions
• Export the Mesh

Watch the video on how to use ITEM

Trelis hex meshing algorithms were developed in 1992 and form the basis of most hex meshing today. Since then, Trelis has been known for its ability to hex mesh large, complex assemblies. Trelis also includes time-proven meshing algorithms for generating all kinds of great meshes.

• Triangle Surface Meshing (Advancing Front)
• Triangle Surface Meshing (Delaunay)
• Quad Surface Meshing (Paving)
• Quad Surface Meshing (Mapping)
• Quad Surface Meshing (Sub-mapping)
• Tet Volume Meshing (Distene)
• Hex Volume Meshing (Sweeping)
• Hex Volume Meshing (Mapping)

Trelis can automatically select an appropriate hex or quad mesh algorithm for many cases. It can also set up edge mesh sizing for you. After meshing, you can check several mesh quality metrics. You can smooth the mesh using Laplacian, Centroid-area Pull, Equipotential, Jacobian Optimization, Condition Number Optimization, Winslow, or Untangling. You can also refine the mesh globally or locally.

Trelis supports sidesets, nodesets and element blocks , which can be used for material, assignments, generic loads and other boundary conditions. Trelis supports Exodus II, Abaqus, Fluent, LS-Dyna, Nastran, and Patran boundary conditions. The boundary conditions can be visualized in the graphics window.

Trelis commands can be saved as scripts or in journal files that can be reused and shared. These journal files can be used to automate specific tasks or the entire meshing process. Trelis also has the ability to interpret Python scripts, giving you the full capability of the Python scripting language.

As you use the Trelis GUI, commands are automatically saved to an external temporary journal file on your hard drive and in the History window. Reviewing these commands is a great way to become familiar with Trelis's command language. Journal files can be created and played to reproduce a part of or the entire process of building an analysis model.

Watch the video on how to use journal files

Trelis gives you the ability to parameterize the construction of the model and evaluate design sensitivity. Trelis utilizes a rich command language that can be stored as a script or journal file. Parameters representing dimensions of objects may be defined in the script and easily adjusted to modify the geometry.

Watch the webinar on how to use journal files and Aprepro to parameterize Trelis

The user interface is an easy to use environment for preparing and meshing your model. The interface is customizable with dockable toolbars and panels. The graphics window gives you a 3D view of your model.

It also shows the text output from commands and any warnings or errors that occur. There is a Python scripting tab as well. Trelis comes with an integrated HTML help browser.

Watch the Trelis Overview video to learn more about the Trelis GUI

The CubitInterface API gives you flexibility to integrate Trelis like no other meshing tool. Add your own custom menus and dialogs, or embed your entire application right into Trelis. You can also embed the Trelis library into your custom CFD or FEA application or into your company's analysis workflow.

Review the CubitInterface API

Trelis is available for

• Windows XP, Vista, 7 32-bit or 64-bit
• Linux glibc 2.5+ 32-bit or 64-bit - Redhat 5, Fedora 6, SUSE 11.0, Debian 5, Ubuntu 7.04
• Mac OS X10.5+ (32-bit only)