Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus
Abstract
The present invention is a computer-based method and apparatus for constructing all-hexahedral finite element meshes for finite element analysis. The present invention begins with a three-dimensional geometry and an all-quadrilateral surface mesh, then constructs hexahedral element connectivity from the outer boundary inward, and then resolves invalid connectivity. The result of the present invention is a complete representation of hex mesh connectivity only; actual mesh node locations are determined later. The basic method of the present invention comprises the step of forming hexahedral elements by making crossings of entities referred to as ``whisker chords.`` This step, combined with a seaming operation in space, is shown to be sufficient for meshing simple block problems. Entities that appear when meshing more complex geometries, namely blind chords, merged sheets, and self-intersecting chords, are described. A method for detecting invalid connectivity in space, based on repeated edges, is also described, along with its application to various cases of invalid connectivity introduced and resolved by the method. 79 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- AT&T
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 672605
- Patent Number(s):
- 5768156
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-548,286
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 16 Jun 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 99 MATHEMATICS, COMPUTERS, INFORMATION SCIENCE, MANAGEMENT, LAW, MISCELLANEOUS; FINITE ELEMENT METHOD; MESH GENERATION; COMPUTER CALCULATIONS; NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
Citation Formats
Tautges, T J, Mitchell, S A, Blacker, T D, and Murdoch, P. Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Tautges, T J, Mitchell, S A, Blacker, T D, & Murdoch, P. Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus. United States.
Tautges, T J, Mitchell, S A, Blacker, T D, and Murdoch, P. Tue .
"Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus". United States.
@article{osti_672605,
title = {Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus},
author = {Tautges, T J and Mitchell, S A and Blacker, T D and Murdoch, P},
abstractNote = {The present invention is a computer-based method and apparatus for constructing all-hexahedral finite element meshes for finite element analysis. The present invention begins with a three-dimensional geometry and an all-quadrilateral surface mesh, then constructs hexahedral element connectivity from the outer boundary inward, and then resolves invalid connectivity. The result of the present invention is a complete representation of hex mesh connectivity only; actual mesh node locations are determined later. The basic method of the present invention comprises the step of forming hexahedral elements by making crossings of entities referred to as ``whisker chords.`` This step, combined with a seaming operation in space, is shown to be sufficient for meshing simple block problems. Entities that appear when meshing more complex geometries, namely blind chords, merged sheets, and self-intersecting chords, are described. A method for detecting invalid connectivity in space, based on repeated edges, is also described, along with its application to various cases of invalid connectivity introduced and resolved by the method. 79 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 EDT 1998},
month = {Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 EDT 1998}
}