Abaqus adaptivity and mesh replacement techniques change or smooth the mesh to improve result quality, control element distortion, or continue an analysis after remeshing.
How It Works
The guide separates three adaptivity techniques. ALE adaptive meshing controls mesh distortion by smoothing a single mesh during a step. Adaptive remeshing improves accuracy by generating multiple meshes outside the analysis step sequence based on error indicators. Mesh-to-mesh solution mapping transfers solution state between dissimilar meshes to support rezoning and continuation.
ALE spans behavior between purely Lagrangian motion, where nodes move with material, and Eulerian motion, where material flows through a fixed mesh. It is distinct from full Eulerian analysis, but it addresses the same practical problem: large deformation can make a fixed Lagrangian mesh unusable.
Why It Matters
Mesh quality can determine whether a nonlinear finite element analysis remains meaningful. Adaptivity trades extra workflow complexity for controlled distortion, targeted accuracy, or the ability to continue after mesh replacement.