Finally, each node of both draft and high quality elements have three translational degrees of freedom. Undeformed and deformed draft and high quality elements are shown in Figure 1, which can be found in the SOLIDWORKS Simulation training manual. Each edge of the high quality solid element can be formulated by the equation of a curve, y = Ax^2 + Bx + C. The edges of a high quality solid element can be curvilinear and the faces can be non-planar. High quality solid elements are second order tetrahedral elements and have six additional mid-side nodes. Each edge of the draft quality element is formulated by the equation of a line, y = Ax + B. When a draft quality element deforms, it maintains straight edges and flat faces.

The edges of a draft quality element are straight lines and the faces are planar. A draft quality solid element is a first order tetrahedral element with nodes at the four corners. Solid elements are a tetrahedron, sometimes described as a triangular pyramid.

In SOLIDWORKS Simulation, the easiest method of differentiating between a draft quality or high quality solid element is to look at their shape and formulation. That leads to the simple question “can I achieve accurate results using a draft quality mesh”? That statement arose while discussing meshing in SOLIDWORKS Simulation and getting reasonably accurate results with Finite Element Analysis.

I’m not going to disagree with him, rather I am going to show that he is correct.

It’s all about the nodes and the equations! At least that’s what my office mate, Chris, says.

Draft solidworks