Meshing with SimModeler
The meshing workflow is presented through a simple example, by meshing
the CAD model obtained from Generating a CAD model using GOCAD: basic tutorial.
The created stl-file is imported via File > Import Discrete Data
.
Prerequisite
The procedure to download SimModeler (GUI) and the SimModeler modeling suite (library) is detailed here. Note that to be able to properly define the boundary conditions and to be able to export the mesh in the proper format, SimModeler has to be SeisSol customized.
SimModeler version
We have used so far 3 main versions of SimModeler (3, 4 and 5). Sometimes, quality meshes can be obtained on older versions of SimModeler whereas the latest version of SimModeler is not able to get quality meshes (in that case the support of SimModeler is very reactive and helpful). It is then important to notice that smd file created in older versions of SimModeler can be read in all SimModeler versions. On the other hand, smd file from the latest simModeler releases are not backward compatible. Anyway, in most cases, we strongly recommend using the latest version of SimModeler.
Analysis tab
tab Analysis > Click twice on “New Case” on the Analysis Attributes panel. give a name. If your SimModeler is set for SeisSol, the solver seisSol should appear in the drop-down menu.
Select the top surface (several surfaces can be selected by holding Shift), click on the + sign > Boundary conditions > Free Surface. And then on Apply-close (no need to enter a name). Process similarly for the Absorbing and Dynamic rupture boundary conditions.
Meshing tab
The default Surface Meshing and Volume meshing attributes are initially set. Their default attributes can be changed by clicking on them in the mesh attribute tab. In particular, the Smoothing algorithm can be changed from Laplacian to gradient (quoting SimModeler manual, “This algorithm will generally produce better results, but at some performance cost”). The Smoothing level can also be changed (max 1 for Volume meshing and 4 for Surface meshing according to the manual). Finally, the Discrete Face Rotation Angle Limit is also a parameter to consider, for knowing to which extend the CAD model has to be matched.
Generating the mesh
Meshing tab > Generate Mesh