Source Surface Anisotropic Sizing Function
The Source Surface Anisotropic Sizing Function, generates a tensor field based upon the geometric shape of the given surfaces, which can be used to generate anisotropic tet elements. This sizing function supports 2 factors for anisotropy. Additionally, if the specified surfaces are cylindrical or conical, 3 factors for anisotropy are supported. If multiple surfaces are given, a sizing tensor at a location in the field is defined by the closest surface.
For anisotropy with 2 factors, one factor is applied in the direction normal to a surface, and the other factor is applied in the orthogonal directions. For anisotropy with 3 factors, one factor is applied in the direction normal to a surface, and one factor is applied in the direction of the axis for The cylindrical surface, and the third factor is applied in the direction orthogonal to the first 2 directions.
The following command is used to generate an anisotropic tensor field:
Volume <range> Sizing Function Source Surface <id> Near <size> [theta <size>] Growth_factor <factor>
- The Near size is the factor applied in the direction normal to the surface
- The optional Theta size is the factor applied in the direction of the cylindrical surface axis
- The Growth_factor is the rate of change in the Near size as the location moves away from the surface
Below are a couple examples of using this anisotropic sizing function.
The following example uses 2 size factors to create an anisotropic tensor field.

Figure 1: Anistropy from 2 source surfaces
volume 1 size 0.03
volume 1 sizing function source surface 7 8 near 0.003 growth .2
volume 1 scheme tetmesh
mesh volume 1
The following example uses 3 size factors to create an anisotropic tensor field.
Figure 2: Anistropy from 1 source surface
create Cylinder height 0.05 radius 0.1
create Cylinder height 0.05 radius 0.08
subtract volume 2 from volume 1
volume 1 scheme tetmesh
volume 1 size 0.01
Volume 1 Sizing Function Source Surface 1 7 Near 0.004 theta 0.025 Growth_factor 0.01
mesh surface all
