The pattern describes a mesh to generate: positions of
nodes within a geometrical domain and nodal connectivity of elements.
As well, a pattern specifies the so-called key-points, i.e. nodes that
will be located at geometrical vertices. Pattern description is stored
in <pattern_name>.smp file.
The smp file contains 4 sections:
1. The first line holds the number of nodes (N).
2. The next N lines describe nodes coordinates. Each line holds 2 coordinates of a node.
3. A key-points line: indices of nodes to be mapped on geometrical vertices. An index n refers to a node described on an n-th line of section 2. The first node index is zero.
4. The rest lines describe nodal connectivity of elements, one line for an element. A line holds indices of nodes forming an element. An index n refers to a node described on an n-th line of the section 2. The first node index is zero. There must be 3 or 4 indices on a line: only 2d elements are allowed.
The 2D pattern must contain at least one element and at least one key-point. All key-points must lay on boundaries.
An example of a simple smp file and a preview of a pattern described in this file:
The pattern description can be created manually or automatically. Manual pattern creation implies creation of pattern file by hands. For an automatic generation the user just specifies a geometrical face having a mesh built on it. Mesh nodes lying on face vertices become key-points. Additionally, the user may choose the way of getting nodes coordinates by projecting nodes on the face instead of using "positions on face" generated by mesher (if there are any). Faces having a seam edge can’t be used for automatic pattern creation.
When creating a pattern from an existing mesh, there are two possible cases:
1. A sub-mesh on face is selected. A pattern is created from the 2d elements bound to a face by mesher. Node coordinates are either "positions on face" computed by mesher, or coordinates got by node projection on a geometrical surface, according to your choice.
2. A mesh where the main shape is a face, is selected. A pattern is created from all the 2d elements in a mesh. If all mesh elements are build by mesher, the user can select the way of getting nodes coordinates, else all nodes are projected on a face surface.
To apply pattern mapping to a geometrical object:
1. From the Modification
menu choose the Pattern Mapping
item or click 
button in the toolbar. The following
dialog box shall appear:
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To apply a pattern to a geometrical object, you should specify:
- a face having the number of vertices equal to the number of key-points in the pattern; the number of key-points on internal boundaries of a pattern must also be equal to the number of vertices on internal boundaries of a face;
- a vertex to which the first key-point should be mapped,
- reverse or not the order of key-points. (The order of vertices of a face is counterclockwise looking from outside).
The mapping algorithm is as follows:
1. Key-points are set in the order that they are encountered when walking along a pattern boundary so that elements are on the left. The first key-point is preserved.
2. Find geometrical vertices corresponding to key-points by vertices order in a face boundary; here, "Reverse order of key-points" flag is taken into account.
3. Boundary nodes of a pattern are mapped onto edges of a face: a node located between certain key-points on a pattern boundary is mapped on a geometrical edge limited by corresponding geometrical vertices. Node position on an edge reflects its distance from two key-points.
4. Coordinates of a non-boundary node in a parametric space of a face are defined as following. In a parametric space of a pattern, a node lays at the intersection of two iso-lines, each of which intersects a pattern boundary at least at two points. Knowing mapped positions of boundary nodes, we find where isoline-boundary intersection points are mapped to, and hence we can find mapped isolines direction and then, two node positions on two mapped isolines. The eventual mapped position of a node is found as an average of positions on mapped isolines.
