Boundary Control For Automated Sweeping of Finite Element Meshes

• Main Author: Kerr, Robert A.
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 1999
• Subjects: Boundary; Control; Automated; Sweeping; Element; Meshes; Finite; Skew; Morphing; Algorithm; Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/3454; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4453&context=etd

Finite element analysis depends greatly upon a high-quality mesh to be able to provide reasonably accurate answers to engineering problems. Models that need to be analyzed using finite element analysis are becoming increasingly more complex, and correspondingly harder to mesh with good quality. Skew is one quality metric which can cause problems with finite element analyses. This thesis explains how skew is calculated, discusses two common sources of skew: multiply-linked surfaces with interval constraints, and biased edge meshes. Two methods of lessening skew in surface meshes are then presented: the skew control algorithm, and the curve morphing algorithm. These algorithms are discussed in detail, with representative graphics. Examples which demonstrate the skew which arises from the above-mentioned sources are presented. These models are then subjected to the algorithms discussed in the thesis, and a comparison of the skew measure for each example is presented. Finally, areas of possible future work are presented and the possible detrimental effects that the skew control algorithm can exert on the quality metrics of aspect ration and mesh size gradation are discussed.