Measuring Geometry Objects and Entities
To measure a set of geometric objects or entities selected in the Graphics window, click the Measure button () in the Geometry toolbar (this button is also available in the Mesh toolbar) or right-click in the Graphics window and choose Measure () from the context menu.
For features that measure and create parameters to use in the Geometry sequence or when setting up the physics, see Centroid Measurement and Distance Measurement.
The result appears in The Messages Window:
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If objects are selected, the number of entities, finite voids, and objects are displayed. For a smaller number of objects, the names of the objects are listed.
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If domains are selected, the total volume and surface area (3D), the area and perimeter (2D), or length (1D) are displayed.
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If faces or edges are selected, the total area or length is displayed. For faces, the perimeter is also displayed.
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If a single vertex (point) is selected, its coordinates are displayed.
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If two vertices (points) are selected, the distance between those vertices is displayed.
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If two or more vertices (points) are selected, the average coordinates for the selected points are displayed..
Most measured quantities are approximate because they are based on approximating the geometry with a triangular or polygonal mesh (corresponding to a rendering mesh with the graphics rendering Detail set to Fine). The number of digits displayed (all of which are not necessarily accurate) is controlled by the Output display precision field on the User Interface>Precision page in the Preferences dialog box. However, for straight edges and for the coordinates of and distances between vertices, at least 10 digits are displayed, and they are all accurate.
Another way to measure geometry objects, is to right-click the Geometry node and select Measure () from the context menu. This opens the Measure window, which has the following contents:
The Measure window is a tool to measure geometry objects and entities. You can, for example, measure the volume, area, or length of a selected domain, face, or edge. Also view the coordinates of a vertex, the distance between two vertices, or the number of entities and the geometry representation (requires a license for the CAD Import Module) of an object.
Geometry Type
From the Type of geometry list, select to measure geometry objects (the default) or the finalized geometry.
Selection
From the Geometric entity level list, select Object, Domain, Boundary, Edge, or Point. Then select some objects or entities of the selected type to add to the list.
Measurements
Under Measurements you find information about these objects, entities, or finite voids. For objects, this section contains the total number of domains, boundaries, edges, points, and finite voids, and the geometry representation. For domains, boundaries, and edges, their total volume, area, or length appears. For faces in 3D and domains in 2D, the perimeter is also displayed. If you select a point (vertex), its coordinates are shown. If you select two points (vertices), the distance is shown. If you select two or more points, the average coordinates for the selected points are shown. In all cases except for a single point, maximum and minimum values of the bounding box are also shown.
You can add a Mass Properties node to define variables for mass properties such as the total volume, total mass, and the center of mass.