# Nonpositive Jacobian error when reducing model size **URL:** \ **Category:** General Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2026, 10:46am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225 "2026-01-29T10:46:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 10:46am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/1 "2026-01-29T10:46:17Z")
I’m performing a static strength analysis of a bar model. If the bar size is millimeters, the calculation completes successfully. When I reduce the bar size and mesh parameters by a factor of 1000, a Nonpositive Jacobian error appears. I’ve tried changing the mesh order to first, setting the “Midside nodes on geometry” mesh parameter, and building the mesh in PrePoMax and Gmsh. I can’t figure out what the problem is. Please help. ![2026-01-27_21-50-22](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/9/9cf0ef83f9f799d6e0a22ab7bdd2f021dc30dbc6.jpeg) ![2026-01-27_21-47-27](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/2/21fe366aebea317bfead01cc6a47ebc8c0807e07.png) ![2026-01-27_21-43-24](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/4/4a2f60f4cf0812467a142d7f6810305a71bc406c.jpeg) ![2026-01-27_21-40-07](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/9/905fb6a26081eb6abbff03ecc275a5b36d7423d6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 10:51am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/2 "2026-01-29T10:51:26Z")
> [@hvn](#): > > If the bar size is millimeters, the calculation completes successfully. When I reduce the bar size and mesh parameters by a factor of 1000, a Nonpositive Jacobian error appears. So what are the actual dimensions of the bar ? Why are you using the unit system with meters ? Can you share the .pmx file ? ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 10:59am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/3 "2026-01-29T10:59:26Z")
I use the SI system of measurement. It’s convenient for me. The dimensions of the block are 5x10x30 mm. File 160 MB > **[bar.pmx](https://disk.360.yandex.ru/d/cm6DVjA08xdyyQ)** > > Посмотреть и скачать с Яндекс Диска ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 11:15am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/4 "2026-01-29T11:15:45Z")
> [@hvn](#): > > The dimensions of the block are 5x10x30 mm. Ok, but this is the size that you can mesh and the issue occurs only when you scale it down 1000 times ? So the problematic size is 0.005 x 0.01 x 0.03 mm (5 x 10 x 30 µm) ? ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 11:49am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/6 "2026-01-29T11:49:15Z")
> [@hvn](#): > > Yes. That’s right. I need to do a calculation in which objects will have dimensions between 10 and 100 microns. But I ran into this problem. I started studying it using bar as an example. Yes. That’s right. I need to do a calculation in which objects will have dimensions between 10 and 100 microns. But I ran into this problem. I started studying it using bar as an example. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 11:59am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/7 "2026-01-29T11:59:48Z")
The mesh is very dense. It works with a coarse one. Did you try refining it gradually ? ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 12:20pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/9 "2026-01-29T12:20:00Z")
I tried gradually refining the grid. If the grid is coarse, there are no errors. When the grid becomes fine, an error appears. But I need to make the grid finer in the area I’m interested in, where all the changes occur. When I refine the grid in the place where I’m interested, elements with Nonpositive Jacobian appear in that place. ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/10 "2026-01-29T12:56:37Z")
And this error appears on grids of tetrahedrons and hexahedrons. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/11 "2026-01-29T13:04:16Z")
Can you try with SI(mm) unit system ? It might be a limitation of the CalculiX solver happening because of the very low numbers when using the SI(m) system. Also, how many CPUs are you using for this analysis ? You could submit it outside of PrePoMax for testing: [Using standalone CalculiX](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/using-standalone-calculix/846) ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 1:20pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/12 "2026-01-29T13:20:20Z")
My core count is set to 16. I’ll try it in mm now. ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/13 "2026-01-29T13:38:55Z")
> [@FEAnalyst](#): > > SI(mm) I tried doing it with the SI(mm) setting. The error remained. ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/14 "2026-01-29T13:40:27Z")
> [@FEAnalyst](#): > > You could submit it outside of PrePoMax for testing: [Using standalone CalculiX](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/using-standalone-calculix/846) I’ll try this option later. ---
**Author:** ![Matej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Matej)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/15 "2026-01-29T13:41:47Z")
I think you should use more convenient units for that scale. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/16 "2026-01-29T13:50:51Z")
Right, I just noticed that the length is actually 300 µm instead of 30 µm. One has to be careful about scaling and export units too. Mesh of the same min/max range for a properly scaled model looks like this: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/2/2932fa66d37ee119a8d08a013cda12c39ccf298a.jpeg) and seems to run fine using the SI(mm) units. Using meters for a microscale model may mean operating close to software tolerance limits. ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 3:36pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/17 "2026-01-29T15:36:36Z")
I checked again. When using SI (mm), the calculation completes without error. Last time, I forgot to scale the model. ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 11:07am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/18 "2026-01-30T11:07:35Z")
I agree. In this case, it is more appropriate to use microns. But I don’t know how to change them. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/19 "2026-01-30T12:00:39Z")
> [@hvn](#): > > In this case, it is more appropriate to use microns. But I don’t know how to change them. You would have to use the Unitless system and ensure consistent units yourself. But millimeters should be sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![hvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@hvn](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/hvn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 12:05pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/20 "2026-01-30T12:05:52Z")
> [@FEAnalyst](#): > > You would have to use the Unitless system and ensure consistent units yourself. But millimeters should be sufficient. The use of dimensionless units of measurement is inconvenient. But everything works in millimeters, and now I’m satisfied with everything. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Matej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Matej)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian-error-when-reducing-model-size/3225/21 "2026-01-31T14:52:17Z")
Moving this topic to General Questions.