Introduction to HEXABLOCK

With SALOME framework, a CAD component (GEOM) and a meshing component (SMESH) are developed. These tools enable to construct hexahedral meshes:

• by means of a CAD cutting in blocks topologically equivalent to hexahedra with GEOM component,
• and generate a hexahedral mesh with SMESH component.

The HEXABLOCK component of SALOME is designed to help users to build hexahedral meshes:

• with also the block method,
• but without modify the geometry.

Like other SALOME components, HEXABLOCK can also be used in two ways:

• by using Graphic User Interface,
• by writing Python Script.

Stages to obtain hexahedral mesh

HEXABLOCK component enables to define a mesh with hexahedra in 5 stages:

• Import or build a geometry without constraint
• Build a model of blocks
• Associate this model of blocks with the geometry
• Define the groups on the model of blocks
• Generate the hexahedral mesh

• Example: Python script for a connecting rod
• Appendix: naming rule to find elements in an hexahedron