Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus

Patent ·
OSTI ID:871636
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
  2. Green Oaks, IL
  3. Salt Lake City, UT
+ Show Author Affiliations

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.

Research Organization:
AT & T CORP
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Number(s):
US 5768156
OSTI ID:
871636
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (8)

Automatic three-dimensional mesh generation by the finite octree technique journal September 1991
Paving: A new approach to automated quadrilateral mesh generation journal September 1991
Finite element mesh control by integer programming journal August 1993
Computational Geometry book December 1984
Seams and wedges in plastering: A 3-D hexahedral mesh generation algorithm journal June 1993
EXODUS II: A finite element data model report September 1994
GEN3D: A GENESIS database 2D to 3D transformation program report March 1989
NUMBERS: A collection of utilities for pre- and postprocessing two- and three-dimensional EXODUS finite element models report March 1989

Similar Records

Connectivity-based, all-hexahedral mesh generation method and apparatus
Patent · Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 EDT 1998 · OSTI ID:672605
Unconstrained paving & plastering : a new idea for all-hexahedral mesh generation.
Conference · Mon Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 2005 · OSTI ID:948255
Whisker weaving: Invalid connectivity resolution and primal construction algorithm
Conference · Tue Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1995 · OSTI ID:130676

Related Subjects

/716/
all-hexahedral
all-quadrilateral
analysis
apparatus
appear
application
based
based method
basic
begins
blind
block
boundary
chords
combined
complete
complex
comprises
computer-based
connectivity
connectivity-based
constructing
constructs
crossings
described
detecting
determined
edges
element
element analysis
elements
entities
finite
finite element
forming
generation
generation method
geometries
geometry
hex
hexahedral
introduced
invalid
inward
lateral surface
locations
merged
mesh
meshes
meshing
method
namely
node
operation
outer
outer boundary
quadrilateral surface
referred
repeated
representation
resolved
resolves
result
seaming
self-intersecting
sheets
shown
simple
space
step
sufficient
surface
three-dimensional
various
whisker