This option creates one or more Extended Hex Layers blocks. An Extended Hex Layers block is a structured hex block that is attached to the outer layer of a region of structured boundary layer hexahedra, grown from a Struct Hex panel or superpanel. This allows for the hexahedra to continue from the boundary layer mesh into the interior of the domain. Extended Hex Layers connections are only allowed to panels that are in groups with the Element Type set to Struct Hex. If the panels are not already in such groups, the groups will be modified or a new group will be created at the end of the process.

Select the Panel(s)

The next step is to select the Struct Hex panel(s) from which the block will start. Panels can be added via traditional selection, typing a specific number or using the Pick button to interactively select the panels using the mouse. Only 4-sided panels or superpanels will be able to be picked during this step. Note that if the panels selected form a full loop using between 2 and 4 panels, a 5-block configuration will be created with a square core. If fewer than 4 panels have been selected, the selected panels will be split appropriately to form a 4 panel loop. If the 4 panels meet at 90⁰ angles, a choice is given to form 1 block or 5 blocks.

If checked, this option will only allow for panels that are already in groups with the element type set to Struct Hex to be chosen. This simplifies the display and picking process and is the default if any panels have been placed into such groups already.

If checked, each selected panel will be extruded to form a new block.

If unchecked, the set of panels will be analyzed to see if an L, U or □ shape is formed by the panels and if so, one block will be formed using the selected panels.

A block will be created by extruding the selected panel(s) based on the specified direction, distance and expansion factors. Note that if multiple Struct Hex panels are selected and they form concave angles with themselves and thus form an L-, U- or □-shape, this wizard page will not be shown unless Create blocks only by extrusion was checked.

For each curve endpoint belonging to the selected panels, the direction and distance can be individually modified including reversing the extrusion direction.

These options can be used to auto-adjust the direction/distance values included in the table.

Direction (details)

The direction of the selected points will be recalculated using only the surfaces of the picked panel(s).

The direction of the selected points will be recalculated using the surfaces of the picked panel(s) and all the neighboring panels.

A single direction is calculated for the selected points based on the picked panels. If only one panel is selected the directions can be adjusted so that the block is expanded in one or both directions. (This is the default direction presented.)

Note: If the Reversed checkbox is enabled all vectors will be flipped in the opposite direction.

This extrusion distance is applied to all selected points.

This button is used to apply the specified Direction and Distance options to the selected points. The vectors shown in the graphics display are updated accordingly.

The resulting block shape is shown in the graphics display.

This is how the block will be referred to in the Block Management Window.

This button opens a Color Selection Window to allow for the block to be displayed in a user-specified color.

The block will be placed into a specific layer or left in the default Blocks layer.

If the Curved Shape option is selected, the Curvature percentage of the block can be set. The Curvature percentage parameter defines the degree of curvature of the block relatively to the curvature of the surface(s) from which the block starts.

If the View / Adjust block discretization after finishing option is checked, the View Mode will be switched to Struct Surface Curves / Block Edges Mode after the wizard has finished, to enable easy control over the number of discretization points of the block.

This option creates one or more Extended Prism Layers blocks. An Extended Prism Layers block is a semi-structured block of prisms that is attached to the outer layer of a region of boundary layer prisms, grown from a Prism panel or superpanel. This allows for the prisms to continue from the boundary layer mesh into the interior of the domain. Extended Prism Layers connections are only allowed to panels that are in groups with the Element Type set to Prisms. If the panels are not already in such groups, the groups will be modified or a new group will be created at the end of the process.

Select the Panel(s)

The next step is to select the Prism panel(s) from which the block will start. Panels can be added via traditional selection, typing a specific number or using the Pick button to interactively select the panels using the mouse. Only 2-, 3-, or 4-sided panels or superpanels with no inner trimming loops will be able to be picked during this step.

A block will be created by extruding the selected panel(s) based on the specified direction, distance and expansion factors.

For each curve endpoint belonging to the selected panels, the direction and distance can be individually modified including reversing the extrusion direction.

Direction (details)

The direction of the selected points will be recalculated using only the surfaces of the picked panel(s).

The direction of the selected points will be recalculated using the surfaces of the picked panel(s) and all the neighboring panels.

A single direction is calculated for the selected points based on the picked panels. If only one panel is selected the directions can be adjusted so that the block is expanded in one or both directions. (This is the default direction presented.)

Note: If the Reversed checkbox is enabled all vectors will be flipped in the opposite direction.

This extrusion distance is applied to all selected points.

This button is used to apply the specified Direction and Distance options to the selected points. The vectors shown in the graphics display are updated accordingly.

The resulting block shape resulting is shown in the graphics display.

This is how the block will be referred to in the Block Management Window.

This button opens a Color Selection Window to allow for the block to be displayed in a user-specified color.

The block will be placed into a specific layer or left in the default Blocks layer.

If the Curved Shape option is selected, the Curvature percentage of the block can be set. The Curvature percentage parameter defines the degree of curvature of the block relatively to the curvature of the surface(s) from which the block starts.

If the View / Adjust block discretization after finishing option is checked, the View Mode will be switched to Struct Surface Curves / Block Edges Mode after the wizard has finished, to enable easy control over the number of block points.

This option will connect the new block directly to any 4-sided panels or superpanels in the geometry. This allows for fully structured meshes to be created for entire domains or subdomains (simple regions of complicated geometries).

Select the Panel(s)

The next step is to select the panel(s) from which the block will start. Panels can be added via traditional selection, typing a specific number or using the Pick button to interactively select the panels using the mouse. Only 4-sided panels or superpanels will be able to be picked during this step. Note that if the panels selected form a full loop using between 2 and 4 panels, a 5-block configuration will be created with a square core. If fewer than 4 panels have been selected, the selected panels will be split appropriately to form a 4 panel loop. If the 4 panels meet at 90⁰ angles, a choice is given to form 1 block or 5 blocks.

If checked, this option will only allow for panels that are already in groups with the element type set to Struct Hex to be chosen. This simplifies the display and picking process and is the default if any panels have been placed into such groups already.

A block will be created by extruding the selected panel(s) based on the specified direction, distance and scaling factors. Note that if multiple panels are selected and they form concave angles with themselves and thus form an L-, U- or □-shape, this wizard page will not be shown.

For each curve endpoint belonging to the selected panels, the direction and distance can be individually modified including reversing the extrusion direction.

These options can be used to auto-adjust the direction/distance values included in the table.

Direction (details)

The direction of the selected points will be recalculated using only the surfaces of the picked panel(s).

The direction of the selected points will be recalculated using the surfaces of the picked panel(s) and all the neighboring panels.

A single direction is calculated for the selected points based on the picked panels. If only one panel is selected the directions can be adjusted so that the block is expanded in one or both directions. (This is the default direction presented.)

Note: If the Reversed checkbox is enabled all vectors will be flipped in the opposite direction.

This extrusion distance is applied to all selected points.

This button is used to apply the specified Direction and Distance options to the selected points. The vectors shown in the graphics display are updated accordingly.

The resulting block shape is shown in the graphics display.

This is how the block will be referred to in the Block Management Window.

This button opens a Color Selection Window to allow for the block to be displayed in a user-specified color.

The block will be placed into a specific layer or left in the default Blocks layer.

Specify the number of points in the extrusion direction. For the lateral directions, by default, the number of points is automatically determined by the mesh generator. The discretization points of the block in all directions can be modified using the Struct Surface Curves / Block Edges Mode after the block’s creation.

If the Curved Shape option is selected, the Curvature percentage of the block can be set. The Curvature percentage parameter controls the degree of curvature of the block relatively to the curvature of the surface(s) from which the block starts.

If the View / Adjust block discretization after finishing option is checked, the View Mode will be switched to Struct Surface Curves / Block Edges Mode after the wizard has finished, to enable easy control over the number of block points.

This option allows for a new hex block to be created that is directly linked to one or more existing hex blocks.

Select the Existing Hex Block Face(s)

The next step is to select the faces of existing Hex Block(s) from which the block will start. Faces can be added interactively using the mouse or automatically suggested using the Suggest Hex Face Linkings button:

The next step is to select the type of geometry for the new block. The list will only include type that are compatible with the hex block faces previously selected. For example, in this case a round faces was chosen, so only round block types are possible.

A block will be created by extruding the selected block faces(s) based on the specified direction, distance and expansion factors. The available options may be slightly different depending on the type of the existing block. Note that if multiple rectangular block faces are selected and they form concave angles with themselves and thus form an L- or U-shape, this wizard page will not be shown.

Finally, the name of the block, the color and the number of points in each direction will be set. The number of points from the existing block(s) will be automatically set. If these values are changed, all connected blocks will also be adjusted. Point distributions can also be modified for various directions from this page using the appropriate button. The exact options on this window will depend on the block type that is created.

This option allows for the sides (or ends) of a hex block to connect to the CAD without the need for transitional elements between the block and the geometry. For the Side Panels option, connections are only allowed to panels in groups with the type Hybrid or Tetrahedra.

Select the Geometry Type of the New Block

The next step is to select the type of geometry for the new block.

Next, define the geometric shape of the new block. This window will vary depending on the type of block being created. The Preview button can be used to see the shape of the block.

The geometry is analyzed for possible connections. After that, if any connections are found, this window will appear and the display will show the connections that are suggested. By default, all of them will be accepted when the Next button is pressed. Each suggested connection can be seen individually by clicking on the line in the table for the connection.

Use the Add Face Link button to define a link between a face of the block and a panel in the geometry. When the button is pressed, the window will prompt for a block face to be picked using the mouse and then the panel can be picked using either the mouse, selecting it by number or using previously selected panels. Only panels with the boundary condition(s) defined in the prior step will be pickable. Note, if multiple blocks are being formed (via the EHL or Base Panels options), face links for each block will be treated one block at a time. Also, any accepted suggested connections will be shown in the table for that block.

The Allow only Hybrid/Tet panels option can be used to limit the panel selection only to panels that have the usual types for Side Panel connections.

The Skip next (#) blocks option can be used to quickly skip this page for all subsequent blocks. This is useful if the automatic Side Panel selection already identified all the necessary Side Panel connections or if all the necessary connections have already been made manually.

Finally, the name of the block, the color and the number of points in each direction will be set. Point distributions can also be modified for various directions from this page using the appropriate button. The exact options on this window will depend on the block type that is created.