split

   'split' [<set> <set>] |[<line> <point>]
This keyword is used to split lines, surfaces and elements stored in a first set by surfaces or shapes given in a second set. Also A single line can be splitted by a given point (see “pnt” how to generate a point on a line).

So far only tetraeder elements (in the first set) can be splitted by surfaces, faces or shapes (referenced by the second set). The splitted tetraeder elements will be replaced by new tetraeder- and pentaeder elements. It can be used to cut out parts of the mesh to be either used directly in other models or which can be remeshed with tets based on an stl-file derived from them. Or it can be used to apply damages to a structure. See “How to map loads” in the appendix on how to map loads to the new created nodes from the original mesh.

Sometimes the splitting of surfaces results in lines which do not look as expected. The reason is usually a insufficient resolution of the inner triangles used for its graphically representation. These triangles are generated or updated before the splitting happens and they are the basis for the splitting (the rep command does the same and the result can be viewed with “plot si all”). The user should increase the line division with qdiv and the inner resolution with elty or qmsh before he starts the next attempt (it is advisable to save the model before the split command is used).