Import mesh from Ansys

Imports the mesh from a .dat file generated by Ansys into Matlab
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Updated 8 Oct 2020

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If you have a finite element mesh generated in Ansys Workbench and want to import it into Matlab, do the following:

- in Ansys workbench: Create an "input file" (in the model, select "solution" in the tree, click "tools"->Write input file)

- in Matlab: pass the file name of the input file to the function 'importMesh_ansys2D'.

The function reads the vertex coordinates and connectivity from the .dat file and stores them into Matlab arrays. For an example, see the file 'test_importMesh'.

Notes:
- Works for 2D only. However, the extension to 3D should be straightforward by selecting the corresponding columns in the connectivity.
- The additional nodes (in case of quadratic shape functions) are ignored.
- For triangular elements, the connectivity table repeats the third vertex. This format is adopted from Ansys.

Cite As

Hauke Gravenkamp (2026). Import mesh from Ansys (https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/80907-import-mesh-from-ansys), MATLAB Central File Exchange. Retrieved .

MATLAB Release Compatibility
Created with R2020a
Compatible with any release
Platform Compatibility
Windows macOS Linux
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Version Published Release Notes
1.0.1

add example file

1.0.0