how to get surface nodes using Abaqus python?

Question

I used to use getBoundingBox() to get surface nodes if outside surface is flat. Now if the surface is not flat, what alternative method I can use to select nodes on the outside surface?? Thanks a lot

    bottom_face=modelInstane.nodes.getByBoundingBox(xMin=X_tolernce*-1,xMax=Model_Width_I+X_tolernce,
                        yMin=Y_tolernce*-1,yMax=Model_Width_J+Y_tolernce,zMin=ZBot_Under-Z_tolernce,zMax=ZBot_Under+Z_tolernce)

Answer 1

If a mesh surface already exists in the model, then you can use:

# Considering "mesh_surf" is the mesh surface name.
inst = mdb.models['Model-1'].rootAssembly.instances['Part-1-1']
surf = inst.surfaces['mesh_surf']
surf_nodes = surf.nodes

Mesh surface is a surface associated with the mesh and NOT the geometry.
Mesh surface is created using element faces internally and geometry surface created using geometry faces.