API for Grid Generation Over Topological Models

Proceedings, 13th International Meshing Roundtable, Williamsburg, VA, Sandia National Laboratories, SAND #2004-3765C, pp.221-230, September 19-22 2004

MESHING
RESEARCH
CORNER

13th International Meshing Roundtable
Willimasburg, Virginia, USA
September 19-22, 2004

Enabling Technology Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL., U.S.A
{sgopals, dhross, ashih}@uab.edu

Abstract
Topological representations are being used to define geometric models suitable for grid generation and grid generation tools are being developed that work directly on topological entities. While there are standards for topological representation, there is no standard for Application Programming Interface (API) for grid generation over topological models. This paper describes one such API. It discusses an API for generating various types of grids - edge grids and structured/ unstructured face and volume grids - in the context of a topological representation scheme used in the Geometry and Grid Toolkit (GGTK) developed at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). As an application of the API, this paper proposes an XML schema for specifying desired grids for a topological model. Using XML as a mode of input, one can then develop a web component for grid generation from a grid generator that supports the API, which can be used by remote users to obtain required grids.

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