Help with converting complex surface into solid

[abaqusiskillingme]

Hi all, I'm working on my project in uni and have hit a roadblock. Basically, I need to convert the aircraft model (refer to the attached part) which is currently a surface, into a solid (need a solid for CFD reasons). However this model that I got was from other students and hence for reasons unknown, they created little gaps within the top and bottom aircraft halves.

I've tried to use fill on the various openings and joined all these together and also used the healing command. I then tried to use both the close and thick surface command.However, I get an error saying that the surface cannot be closed by a planar face.

What am I doing wrong and how do I fix this? Please help thanks!

 

[rickyt]

Adding a boundary curve to your join or healing will highlight the open boundaries.
These areas have gaps or overlapped surfaces.

these extra surfaces need to be removed from your join

you can also go back to your join and double click it and you will see the problem areas per the green edges.

 

[abaqusiskillingme]

Hm I didn't even realise those internal surfaces were there!

Could you recommend a good way to remove these? Sorry but I'm not too familiar with surfaces in Catia but I'm trying my best.

Thanks!

 

[rickyt]

I would make a new geometrical set and do a disassemble, this will create all new individual surfaces.
Delete the extra ones, and join the ones you need.
You may need to fix a few areas with new surfaces that still have gaps larger than allowed.

 

[abaqusiskillingme]

Sorry but I don't really understand what you mean by that. Could you explain it in detail please?

 

[rickyt]

Here is a .stp file of it as a solid.
Creating a solid took about 5 minutes, versus me trying to explain how.
I see you your file is V5R25, I have V5R26 so I needed to stp it out.
You will get a dumb solid body.

 

[abaqusiskillingme]

Thank you so much! You've basically just saved my life

Bless you wonderful human