Simple Algorithm for Adaptive Refinement of Three Dimensional Finite Element Tetrahedral Meshes

AIAA Journal, Vol 33, Num 5, pp.928-932, May 1995

MESHING
RESEARCH
CORNER

University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019

Summary
A simple strategy to adaptively refine three-dimensional tetrahedral meshes has been implemented. The procedure adaptively refines a crude initial mesh using solution error indicators or other suitable measures. In this paper example problems were remeshed using a refinement ratio determined from an a posteriori error indicator obtained from the finite element solution of the problem. The resulting finite element meshes are found to have a smooth gradient in element size. Aspect ratios are calculated to determine the quality of each element, and a smoothing procedure is employed to improve the element aspect ratio. Example meshes are included to show the adaptive nature of the remesher when applied over several solution cycles.