Sort nodes and elements: Sort and renumber nodes and elements by positions

Nodes and elements can be sorted depending on their geometrical position. The elements or nodes will at first be renumbered according to their coordinates and afterwards sorted by these numbers.

Renumbering follows these rules:

The smallest box containing all nodes is calculated.

This box is subdivided into 1024 segments for each direction, i.e. the structure is subdivided into 230 small boxes. When choosing the sequence of sorting, it may be specified that this subdivision is ignored for one direction.

The boxes are sequentially numbered, for example by choosing xyz, the sequence of numbering is (((ix = 1, 1024), iy = 1, 1024), iz = 1, 1024) with ix,iy,iz the number of the section in the direction of coordinate axis.

Nodes are distributed into the corresponding boxes and sequentially numbered.

In case a local coordinate system is given, all nodes are transformed into this system and sorted according to their position within this system.

When sorting elements the center of gravity is used as position of elements.

Note: If the node or element IDs of a finite element structure is changed, it is checked whether a file with load data exists and it is asked whether the IDs used in this file should be adjusted. In case of a positive answer the load data is loaded and the external node IDs respectively element IDs are changed, after that the file is saved to hard disk. In case of a negative answer, it is asked whether the renumbering should be executed anyway. Answer NO has to be given when the file has to be updated before with data in the memory. If IDs are changed in the load file, it is imported to also save the element structure. If IDs of a macro structure are changed, it is checked whether a file with subdivision data exists and asked to adjust the IDs.

Following dialog shows the available options:

Sort by coordinates

Nodes: Sort nodes

Elements: Sort elements

Order: Select order of axis, which the sorting scheme should follow. Alternatives are (xy), (yx), (xz), (zx), (yz), (zy), (xyz), (xzy), (yxz), (yzx), (zxy), (zyx). In case of giving only 2 axes there will be no sorting for the third direction. For example sorting scheme (xy) will be used for 3D-surfaces, which shouldn’t be sorted in the z direction.

CoordSys: In case an ID of a local coordinate system is given, sorting is done within this system. The list box shows all defined coordinate systems.

Sort by

Group ID: Elements will be sorted in ascending order of their group Ids.

Mech.Type ID: Elements will be sorted in ascending order of their mechanical type ID.

Element ID: Elements will be sorted in ascending order of their ID.

Element selection

Only elements and pertinent nodes that are in the element selection will be considered.

Numbering:

ID1: Number for first element/node.

Inc: Increment for numbering.