Why is the mesh in PZFlex different from those I have seen in other FE codes?
Most other FE codes use their own custom meshing programs in order to discretise their models. These generate complex elements shapes that map to the exact shape of the device whereas PZFlex mostly uses rectangular elements to represent an approximation of the shape. At first glance these elements seem to represent a shape with more accuracy; however this is not always the case. If one removes the lines connecting the elements then the perceived differences between the two approaches quickly diminish and you are left with a collection of nodes contained within the shape you wish to model. The advantage of standard grid with rectangular elements now becomes clearer as both models have a similar amount of nodes but the standard grid can be 10-20 times faster to solve due to the less-complex elements involved. A useful analogy for why rectangular grids retain accuracy for complex surfaces is how pixels in a monitor make an image. When one looks extremely closely the individual pixels are
