Dealing with STL files

[EbrahimGamaleldin]

Hello everyone,
I have an STL file for a complex geometry and I want to analysis it as a part within the soil. I know that STL files can be imported into ABAQUS. I would appreciate If anyone can help me to answer these questions :
1. When I am importing it, it generate a new model; Can I import it directly to existing model as a new part?
2. Is it necessary to convert it to a solid first, and remesh it again because the STL file provides only a surface mesh? and how can we do that?

Thanks in advance.

 

[FEA way]

Indeed, the built-in STL Import plug-in creates a new model but you can copy the part from it to another model with the Copy Objects tool.

If you want to generate a solid mesh for a part imported from STL file, you have to convert that part to geometry (since it's imported as orphan mesh). There's a plug-in for that. It's named "Mesh to Geometry Plugin" and available for download from the Simulia Community on DS 3DSwym. Or you could use the Geometry Edit --> Face --> From element faces tool and follow it with Shape --> Solid --> From Shell in the Part module but it's not as convenient as the plug-in.