15.3.2.

Measures of Mesh Quality

Using a mesh of adequate geometrical mesh quality is an important part of controlling discretization error. For details, see Discretization
Errors in the CFX-Solver Theory Guide. It is also important for avoiding round-off errors during, for example, the solution of the linear
equations that are produced by the discretization process. Significant measures of mesh quality may be broadly categorized as measures of
mesh orthogonality, expansion and aspect ratio (or stretching).
Various forms of these measures are presented during different stages of the simulation process (for example, mesh generation, physics pre-
processing, solution, and so on). It is important to realize, however, that the most relevant form of the orthogonality, expansion and aspect
ratio measures is intimately related to the discrete approximations employed by the field solver being used. Moreover, acceptable ranges for
the values of these measures also depend heavily upon the discretizations used.
The discussion that follows focuses on the measures that are most relevant to the CFX-Solver. The relationship between these measures and
some of the values that are available in mesh generators or physics pre- or post-processors is also noted.
15.3.2.1. Mesh Orthogonality
The concept of mesh orthogonality relates to how close the angles between adjacent element faces or adjacent element edges are to some
optimal angle (for example, 90 for quadrilateral faced elements and 60 for triangular faces elements). The most relevant measure of mesh
orthogonality for the CFX-Solver is illustrated below. It involves the angle between the vector that joins two mesh (or control volume) nodes
(s) and the normal vector for each integration point surface (n) associated with that edge. Significant orthogonality and non-orthogonality are
illustrated at ip1 and ip2, respectively.
The orthogonality angle, three related measures, and acceptable ranges are tabulated below with other measures that are available through
the CFD-Post post-processor and ANSYS ICEM CFD meshing tools. Values outside of the suggested acceptable range will increase both
sources and the amplification of discretization error. Poor convergence and divergence can be expected under these conditions.
Orthogonality Measure Acceptable Range Description and Notes
Orthogonality Angle > 20 Area weighted average of for all integration point surfaces
of a control volume
Large values indicate good orthogonality
One of the best indicators of how and where poor orthogonality will
adversely affect general solution accuracy and robustness
Orthogonality Factor
>
Area weighted average of all integration point surface scalar products of unit n
and s vectors (that is, ns) associated with each control volume
Large values indicate good orthogonality
One of the best indicators of how and where poor orthogonality will
adversely affect general solution accuracy and robustness
Orthogonality Angle
Minimum
> 10 Minimum of for all integration point surfaces of a control
volume
Similar to orthogonality angle, but adverse effects are likely to be less
globally significant
Orthogonality Factor
Minimum
>
Minimum of all integration point surface scalar products of unit n and s vectors
(that is, ns) associated with each control volume
Similar to orthogonality angle, but adverse effects are likely to be less
globally significant
Minimum/ Maximum Face
Angle (CFD-Post)
> 10 or < 170 Minimum/maximum angle between edges of each face that touches a node
Usefulness of this orthogonality measure is limited by its two-dimensional
nature
Acceptable minimum/maximum values do not ensure acceptable
orthogonality (for example, a flattened tetrahedron can have minimum
angles of 30)
Minimum/ Maximum
Dihedral Angle(ANSYS
ICEM CFD)
> 10 or < 170 Minimum/maximum angle between element faces
Inherent three-dimensional nature increases the usefulness of this measure
Most similar measure to orthogonality angle minimum
15.3.2.2. Mesh Expansion
The concept of mesh expansion relates to rate of change in the magnitude of adjacent element face areas or volumes.
The most relevant measure of mesh expansion for the CFX-Solver is illustrated below. It involves the ratio of the maximum to minimum
distance between the control volume node and the control volume boundaries. Because this measure is relatively expensive to calculate for
arbitrarily shaped control volumes, an alternative formulation, the ratio of maximum to minimum sector volumes, is used.
This measure and its acceptable values are tabulated below, along with a measure that is available through the CFD-Post post-processor.
Values outside of the suggested acceptable range will increase sources of error that are due to the discretization of transient and body force
terms.
Mesh Expansion Measure Acceptable Range Description and Notes
Mesh Expansion Factor <20 Ratio of largest to smallest sector volumes for each control
volume
Element Volume Ratio (CFD-Post) <20 Ratio of largest to smallest element volumes that surround
a node
15.3.2.3. Mesh Aspect Ratio
The concept of the mesh aspect ratio relates to the degree that mesh elements are stretched. The most relevant measure of aspect ratio for
the CFX-Solver is illustrated below. It involves the ratio of the maximum to minimum integration point surface areas in all elements. Nodal
(that is, control volume) values are calculated as the maximum of all element aspect ratios that are adjacent to the node.
The area based measure is tabulated below along with another measure that is available through the CFD-Post post-processor. Values outside
of the suggested acceptable range will lead to round-off errors and associated difficulties converging the discretized equations.
Mesh Aspect Ratio Measure Acceptable Range Description and Notes
Aspect Ratio
<100
[a]
Largest ratio of maximum to minimum integration point
surface areas for all elements adjacent to a node
Edge Length Ratio (CFD-Post) <100 Largest ratio of maximum to minimum integration edge
lengths for all edges of element faces that touch a node
[a]
The acceptable range for both measurements is less than 1000 if running double precision.
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