The description of meshes
==========================

The conventions for describing mesh topology in*Aster* are summarized here. The use of meshes is given here for information purposes only, please refer to the documentation specific to each order.


+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Mesh associated with **a knot** (2D or 3D)                                                                                                                  |
+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|**POI1**                                  |                                                                                                                 |
+                                          + .. image:: images/100001C20000043D0000039E409B686EDC211486.svg                                                  +
|                                          |    :width: 54                                                                                                   |
+                                          +    :height: 46                                                                                                  +
|                                          |                                                                                                                 |
+                                          +                                                                                                                 +
|                                          |                                                                                                                 |
+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+


+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|Mesh associated with **a segment** (**2D** or **3D**)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ||
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**SEG2**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           + .. image:: images/1000030A00000AA5000002E54FC3A6D693B427D1.svg                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**SEG3**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           + .. image:: images/1000040000000AF5000002E556532FBA0C87C372.svg                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**SEG4**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           + .. image:: images/Shape1.gif                                                                                    ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**Orientation**: The orientation is defined by the order of the node vertices                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
+ .. image:: images/100003C200000AC0000002FFE322177E89327837.svg                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               +
|    :width: 54                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
+    :height: 46                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               +
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
+ This orientation is possibly supplemented by characteristics given according to the type of finite element affected on the mesh by the keyword factor ORIENTATIONde the operator AFFE_CARA_ELEM [U4.42.01].                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  +
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++


+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|Mesh associated with **a triangle** (**2D** or **3D**)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ||
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**TRIA3**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  + .. image:: images/100004E400000A3B000007A676F835E0DB603161.svg                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                 ||
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**TRIA6**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  + .. image:: images/10000A6000000A56000007A676AE6FDCD870A4DC.svg                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                 ||
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**TRIA7**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  + .. image:: images/Shape2.gif                                                                                    ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                 ||
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**Orientation:**Orientation is defined by the order of the vertex nodes that are given to define the direct trigonometric direction.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
+ .. image:: images/100004C40000129B0000094D2663FF5BCAF768F4.svg                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      +
|    :width: 54                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
+    :height: 46                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      +
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
+ This orientation is possibly complemented by characteristics given to the elements by the operator AFFE_CARA_ELEM [U4.42.01], in particular for shell elements by the keyword factor COQUE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         +
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++


+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|Mesh associated with **a quadrangle** (2D or 3D)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ||
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**QUAD4**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               + .. image:: images/1000074A00000A56000008107404F16F8560EDCE.svg                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                 ||
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**QUAD8**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               + .. image:: images/1000105400000AC00000085F40DACBD7121AD98F.svg                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                 ||
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**QUAD9**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               + .. image:: images/100011CE00000A0600000845C4DC44A4C47A7C9F.svg                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                 ||
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**Orientation:**Orientation is defined by the order of the vertex nodes that are given to define the direct trigonometric meaning                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
+ .. image:: images/100006360000129B00000DD983FAF41BCCF14F2F.svg                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   +
|    :width: 54                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
+    :height: 46                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   +
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
+ This orientation is possibly complemented by characteristics given to the elements by the AFFE_CARA_ELEM [U4.42.01] operator, in particular for shell elements by the keyword factor COQUE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      +
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++


+---------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|Mesh associated with **a tetrahedr** (**3D**)                                                                                                                  ||
+---------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**TETRA4**                                   |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                             + .. image:: images/100006AA00000F1700000BAE65A61FC717794536.svg                                                  ++
|                                             |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                             +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                             +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                 ||
+---------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**TETRA10**                                  |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                             + .. image:: images/100009AA00000E5E00000BAE471807D3A4F7407A.svg                                                  ++
|                                             |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                             +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                             +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                 ||
+---------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++


+-------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|Mesh associated with **a pyramid** (**3D**)                                                                                                                  ||
+-------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**PYRAM5**                                 |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                           + .. image:: images/1000097C000069BB0000675AAC7A61781482AE83.svg                                                  ++
|                                           |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                           +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                           +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+-------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**PYRAM13**                                |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                           + .. image:: images/100018D2000069BB00006814BEB018EB2966648F.svg                                                  ++
|                                           |    :width: 54                                                                                                   ||
+                                           +    :height: 46                                                                                                  ++
|                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+                                           +                                                                                                                 ++
|                                           |                                                                                                                 ||
+-------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++


+---------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|Mesh associated with **a pentahedr** (**3D**)                                                                                                                             ||
+---------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**PENTA6**                                   |                                                                                                                            ||
+                                             + .. image:: images/10000A6800000EC800000B0F5725F371AC704F19.svg                                                             ++
|                                             |    :width: 54                                                                                                              ||
+                                             +    :height: 46                                                                                                             ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                            ||
+                                             +                                                                                                                            ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                            ||
+---------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**PENTA15**                                  |                                                                                                                            ||
+                                             + .. image:: images/10000EF400000E2900000ADA6B94624CF9475BC6.svg                                                             ++
|                                             |    :width: 54                                                                                                              ||
+                                             +    :height: 46                                                                                                             ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                            ||
+                                             +                                                                                                                            ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                            ||
+---------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**PENTA18**                                  |17 18 16 9                                                                                                                  ||
+                                             + .. image:: images/10000EF400000E2900000ADA6B94624CF9475BC6.svg                                                             ++
|                                             |    :width: 54                                                                                                              ||
+                                             +    :height: 46                                                                                                             ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                            ||
+                                             +                                                                                                                            ++
|                                             |                                                                                                                            ||
+---------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++


+--------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|Mesh associated with **a hexahedr** (**3D**)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ||
+--------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**HEXA8**                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ||
+                                            + .. image:: images/10000CC00000126600000B0FD1DCB69BC8AAA432.svg                                                                                                                                                                    ++
|                                            |    :width: 54                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ||
+                                            +    :height: 46                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ++
|                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ||
+                                            +                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ++
|                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ||
+--------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**HEXA20**                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ||
+                                            + .. image:: images/1000168A0000128000000B2AE1C2E43C8C7F89F0.svg                                                                                                                                                                    ++
|                                            |    :width: 54                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ||
+                                            +    :height: 46                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ++
|                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ||
+                                            +                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ++
|                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ||
+--------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++
|**HEXA27**                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ||
+                                            + .. image:: images/10001A820000124B00000C320B6B917E9E02C371.svg                                                                                                                                                                    ++
|                                            |    :width: 54                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ||
+                                            +    :height: 46                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ++
|                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ||
+                                            +                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ++
|                                            | .. image:: images/100012680000121600000C322F8F5588426F795B.svg                                                                                                                                                                    ||
+                                            +    :width: 54                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ++
|                                            |    :height: 46                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ||
+                                            +                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ++
|                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ||
+--------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------++