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Abstract

In geosciences the discretization of complex 3D model volumes into finite elements can be a time-consuming task and often needs experience with a professional software. Es-pecially outcropping or out-pinching geological units, i.e. geological layers that are rep-resented in the model volume, pose serious challenges. Changes in the geometry of a model may occur well into a project at a point, when re-meshing is not an option any-more or would involve a significant amount of additional time to invest. In order to speed up and automate the process of discretization, Apple PY (Automatic Portioning Preventing Lengthy manual Element assignment for PYthon) separates the process of mesh-generation and unit assignment. It requires an existing uniform mesh together with separate information on the depths of the interfaces between geological units (herein called horizons). These two pieces of information are combined and used to assign the individual elements to different units. The uniform mesh is created with a standard meshing software and contains no or only very few and simple structures. The mesh has to be available as an Abaqus input file. The information on the horizons depths and lateral variations in the depths is provided in a text file. Apple PY compares the ele-ment location and depth with that of the horizons in order to assign each element to a corresponding geological unit below or above a certain horizon.