Mesh data structure selection for mesh generation and FEA applications

International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Vol 55, Num 4, pp.451 - 478, October 2002

MESHING
RESEARCH
CORNER

Abstract

The data structure representing a mesh and the operators to create and query such a database play a crucial role in the performance of mesh generation and FE analysis applications. The design of such a database must balance the conflicting requirements of compactness and computational efficiency. In this article, 10 different mesh representations are reviewed for linear tetrahedral and hexahedral meshes. A methodology for calculating the storage and computational costs of mesh representations is presented and the 10 data structures are analysed. Also, a system for ranking different data structures based on their computational and storage costs is devised and the various mesh representations are ranked according to this measure.