Features added under Moving Mesh control the spatial frame. They can be used to study both stationary states and time-dependent deformations where the geometry changes its shape due to motion of solid boundaries and deformation of solid domains. The same feature types are also available as Deformed Geometry Features under Deformed Geometry but there control the material frame. For a comparison of moving meshes and deformed geometries, see Deformed Geometry vs. Moving Mesh.

For example, a Deforming Domain feature can be used for fluid domain deformations in fluid-structure interaction (FSI) or electrostatic domain deformations (Electromechanics) in MEMS. The shape of the domain is then governed by the deformation or motion of its boundaries. Other features can specify that parts of the model rotate or otherwise deform in some way.

Technically, the Moving Mesh branch represents the spatial frame in the Model Builder tree. Its Equation View subnode displays all contributions to the spatial frame deformation, for example the mesh smoothing equations used by a Deforming Domain feature, or the boundary motion implicitly prescribed by a Solid Mechanics interface. Also, when enabling Modify model configuration for study step in a Study Step node, you can use the Moving Mesh branch to control the overall behavior of Moving Mesh features: whether they should control the spatial frame, and whether smoothing equations should be solved for.

The Moving Mesh menu that you find when right-clicking a Component node includes the three domain nodes Prescribed Deformation, Rotating Domain, and Deforming Domain. The complete set of features, including boundary nodes, can be found when right-clicking the Moving Mesh branch in a component: