/*! \page extrusion_page Extrusion \n Extrusion is used to build mesh elements of plus one dimension than the input ones. Boundary elements around generated mesh of plus one dimension are additionally created. All created elements can be automatically grouped. Extrusion can be used to create a \ref extrusion_struct "structured mesh from scratch". \image html extrusion_box.png "If you extrude several quadrangles, you get exactly the same mesh as if you meshed a geometrical box (except for that the initial quadrangles can be incorrectly oriented): quadrangles and segments are created on the boundary of the generated mesh"

Any node, segment or 2D element can be extruded. Each type of elements is extruded into a corresponding type of result elements:
Extruded element Result element
Node Segment
Segment Quadrilateral
Triangle Pentahedron
Quadrilateral Hexahedron
Polygon Polyhedron
Hexagonal polygon Hexagonal prism
When 2D elements are extruded, in addition to 3D elements segments are created on the ribs of the resulting 3D mesh. Free edges of input 2D elements generate logically horizontal rib segments. Logically vertical rib segments are generated from the nodes belonging to a sole input 2D element (the figure below illustrates this rule). \image html extru_rib_segs.png "Two triangles extruded: no vertical rib segments generated from nodes #2 and #3 as they are shared by both triangles" To use extrusion:

  1. From the \b Modification menu choose the \b Extrusion item or click "Extrusion" button in the toolbar.
    \image html image91.png "Extrusion" button
    The following dialog will appear: \image html extrusionalongaline1.png
  2. In this dialog:
  3. Click \b Apply or Apply and Close button to confirm the operation.

\anchor extrusion_struct

Example: creation of a structured mesh from scratch

\image html image75.jpg "A node is extruded into a line of segments"
\image html image76.jpg "The line of segments is extruded into a quadrangle mesh"
\image html image77.jpg "The quadrangle mesh is revolved into a hexahedral mesh"
See Also a sample TUI Script of an \ref tui_extrusion "Extrusion" operation. */