MeshSideSetGenerator

Add lower dimensional elements along the faces contained in a side set to set up mixed dimensional problems

Overview

Element sides are not explicitly meshed in MOOSE/libMesh, i.e. no shape functions live on the lower dimensional sides. To run kernels on lower dimensional manifolds they need to be explicitly meshed. That can be accomplished in a mesh generation tool like Cubit, or using this MeshGenerator.

In 3D simulations, the appropriate 2D elements (for 2D simulations, 1D elements) will be meshed in at selected side sets (boundaries). The choice of lower dimensional side elements is dictated by the higher dimensional volume element types.

Coupling between side and volume meshes

The newly-generated lower dimensional side elements will share nodes with the higher dimensional volume's elements. Coupling to the variables from volume elements "just works".

Coupling in the other direction is not as straight forward. The lower dimensional variables exist on some nodes of the adjacent volume elements. The volume kernels will run on the volume quadrature points at which tapered off values from the adjacent edges can be found. Use at your own risk.

Input Parameters

block_idSubdomain id to set for the new elements along the boundary
C++ Type:unsigned short
Controllable:No
Description:Subdomain id to set for the new elements along the boundary
boundariesThe names of the boundaries to mesh
C++ Type:std::vector<BoundaryName>
Controllable:No
Description:The names of the boundaries to mesh
inputThe mesh we want to modify
C++ Type:MeshGeneratorName
Controllable:No
Description:The mesh we want to modify

Required Parameters

block_nameSubdomain name to set for the new elements along the boundary (optional)
C++ Type:SubdomainName
Controllable:No
Description:Subdomain name to set for the new elements along the boundary (optional)
show_infoFalseWhether or not to show mesh info after generating the mesh (bounding box, element types, sidesets, nodesets, subdomains, etc)
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Whether or not to show mesh info after generating the mesh (bounding box, element types, sidesets, nodesets, subdomains, etc)

Optional Parameters

control_tagsAdds user-defined labels for accessing object parameters via control logic.
C++ Type:std::vector<std::string>
Controllable:No
Description:Adds user-defined labels for accessing object parameters via control logic.
enableTrueSet the enabled status of the MooseObject.
Default:True
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Set the enabled status of the MooseObject.

Advanced Parameters

Input Files

(test/tests/meshgenerators/mesh_side_set_generator/mesh_side_set_generator.i)
(test/tests/mesh_modifiers/mesh_side_set/test.i)

(test/tests/meshgenerators/mesh_side_set_generator/mesh_side_set_generator.i)

[Mesh]
  [./gmg]
    type = GeneratedMeshGenerator
    dim = 3
    nx = 4
    ny = 4
    nz = 4
    elem_type = TET4
  []

  [./left_block]
    type = SubdomainBoundingBoxGenerator
    input = gmg
    block_id = 1
    block_name = left_block
    bottom_left = '0 0 0'
    top_right = '0.5 1 1'
  []

  [./right_block]
    type = SubdomainBoundingBoxGenerator
    input = left_block
    block_id = 2
    block_name = right_block
    bottom_left = '0.5 0 0'
    top_right = '1 1 1'
  []

  [./center_side_set]
    type = SideSetsBetweenSubdomainsGenerator
    input = right_block
    primary_block = left_block
    paired_block = right_block
    new_boundary = center_side_set
  []

  [./center_mesh]
    type = MeshSideSetGenerator
    input = center_side_set
    boundaries = center_side_set
    block_id = 10
    block_name = center_mesh
  []
[]

[Variables]
  [./c_volume]
    [./InitialCondition]
      type = FunctionIC
      function = '1-(x-0.5)^2+(y-0.5)^2+(z-0.5)^2'
    [../]
  [../]
  [./c_plane]
    block = 'center_mesh'
  [../]
[]

[Kernels]
  [./volume_diff]
    type = Diffusion
    variable = c_volume
    block = 'left_block right_block'
  [../]
  [./volume_dt]
    type = TimeDerivative
    variable = c_volume
    block = 'left_block right_block'
  [../]

  # couple the lower dimensional variable to the volume variable
  [./plane_reaction]
    type = Reaction
    variable = c_plane
    block = 'center_mesh'
  [../]
  [./plane_coupled]
    type = CoupledForce
    variable = c_plane
    v = c_volume
    block = 'center_mesh'
  [../]
[]

[Executioner]
  type = Transient
  dt = 0.01
  num_steps = 2
[]

[Outputs]
  exodus = true
[]

(test/tests/mesh_modifiers/mesh_side_set/test.i)

[Mesh]
  [gen]
    type = GeneratedMeshGenerator
    dim = 3
    nx = 4
    ny = 4
    nz = 4
    elem_type = TET4
  []

  [left_block]
    type = SubdomainBoundingBoxGenerator
    input = gen
    block_id = 1
    block_name = left_block
    bottom_left = '0 0 0'
    top_right = '0.5 1 1'
  []
  [right_block]
    type = SubdomainBoundingBoxGenerator
    input = left_block
    block_id = 2
    block_name = right_block
    bottom_left = '0.5 0 0'
    top_right = '1 1 1'
  []
  [center_side_set]
    type = SideSetsBetweenSubdomainsGenerator
    input = right_block
    primary_block = left_block
    paired_block = right_block
    new_boundary = center_side_set
  []
  [center_mesh]
    type = MeshSideSetGenerator
    input = center_side_set
    boundaries = center_side_set
    block_id = 10
    block_name = center_mesh
  []
[]

[Variables]
  [c_volume]
    [InitialCondition]
      type = FunctionIC
      function = '1-(x-0.5)^2+(y-0.5)^2+(z-0.5)^2'
    []
  []
  [c_plane]
    block = 'center_mesh'
  []
[]

[Kernels]
  [volume_diff]
    type = Diffusion
    variable = c_volume
    block = 'left_block right_block'
  []
  [volume_dt]
    type = TimeDerivative
    variable = c_volume
    block = 'left_block right_block'
  []

  # couple the lower dimensional variable to the volume variable
  [plane_reaction]
    type = Reaction
    variable = c_plane
    block = 'center_mesh'
  []
  [plane_coupled]
    type = CoupledForce
    variable = c_plane
    v = c_volume
    block = 'center_mesh'
  []
[]

[Executioner]
  type = Transient
  dt = 0.01
  num_steps = 2
[]

[Outputs]
  exodus = true
[]

Overview
Coupling between side and volume meshes
Input Parameters
Input Files

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