Controlling FEM Mesh Display
Use the Mesh Display Mode option list on the Mesh tab of the Simulation Display dialog box to control the appearance of a mesh generated in FEM mode. The option list includes:
• No Mesh—No mesh lines are visible, and the software displays only the model geometry. Use this display type if you want to simplify the appearance of your model so you can focus solely on the geometry. This is particularly handy as you add loads, boundary conditions, and other properties to the geometry.
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This option is not available when Creo Simulate is displaying the mesh model only.
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• Wireframe—Geometry lines are white and element lines are yellow. The software displays all elements with boundary faces. For solid models, this display type has the most complex appearance.
• Hidden Line—Visible geometry lines are white and element lines on visible surfaces are yellow. Hidden geometry and hidden element edges are gray. The software displays all elements with boundary faces.
• No Hidden—Visible geometry lines are white and external, visible surfaces of elements are yellow. The software does not display hidden geometry and hidden element edges. For solid models, this display type has the simplest appearance.
• Shading—Visible geometry lines are red and external, visible edges of elements are blue. The software does not display hidden geometry and hidden element edges. Be aware that, if you customize the colors you use for shading, the Shading option may display element lines using different colors.
If you are displaying your model geometry as shaded and you select the Shading mesh display option, Creo Simulate retains geometry shading. However, instead of shading the elements as well, the software renders them as outlines on the surface of the shaded geometry.
To create the model appearance you want, you can use the mesh display options in combination with the geometry display buttons always present on the Creo Parametric menu bar. For example, you can set the geometry of your model to a Shaded display and the mesh to a No Hidden display. This renders a geometrically accurate, realistic-looking model with a simple element overlay.
The Wireframe, Hidden Line, and No Hidden settings are primarily useful for solid and mixed models. For shell and midsurface models, all these settings look similar because shell elements have no displayed depth. Additionally, if you shade the geometry of your model, you will be able to see the element display more easily if you ensure that the model color has some transparency.
As an alternative to using the option list to change mesh visibilities, you can use the mesh display buttons on the Graphics toolbar. You can also set the initial state of your mesh display through the sim_display_mesh_mode configuration option.
Return to Mesh Tab or Creating a FEM Mesh.