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Title: 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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
  2. Green Oaks, IL
  3. Salt Lake City, UT
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
AT&T
OSTI Identifier:
871636
Patent Number(s):
5768156
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06T - IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76DP00789
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
connectivity-based; all-hexahedral; mesh; generation; method; apparatus; computer-based; constructing; finite; element; meshes; analysis; begins; three-dimensional; geometry; all-quadrilateral; surface; constructs; hexahedral; connectivity; outer; boundary; inward; resolves; invalid; result; complete; representation; hex; node; locations; determined; basic; comprises; step; forming; elements; crossings; entities; referred; whisker; chords; combined; seaming; operation; space; shown; sufficient; meshing; simple; block; appear; complex; geometries; namely; blind; merged; sheets; self-intersecting; described; detecting; based; repeated; edges; application; various; introduced; resolved; finite element; quadrilateral surface; outer boundary; lateral surface; element analysis; generation method; based method; /716/

Citation Formats

Tautges, Timothy James, Mitchell, Scott A, Blacker, Ted D, and Murdoch, Peter. Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus. United States: N. p., 1998. Web.
Tautges, Timothy James, Mitchell, Scott A, Blacker, Ted D, & Murdoch, Peter. Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus. United States.
Tautges, Timothy James, Mitchell, Scott A, Blacker, Ted D, and Murdoch, Peter. Tue . "Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871636.
@article{osti_871636,
title = {Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus},
author = {Tautges, Timothy James and Mitchell, Scott A and Blacker, Ted D and Murdoch, Peter},
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.},
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}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Automatic three-dimensional mesh generation by the finite octree technique
journal, September 1991


EXODUS II: A finite element data model
report, September 1994


GEN3D: A GENESIS database 2D to 3D transformation program
report, March 1989


Paving: A new approach to automated quadrilateral mesh generation
journal, September 1991


Finite element mesh control by integer programming
journal, August 1993


Seams and wedges in plastering: A 3-D hexahedral mesh generation algorithm
journal, June 1993