Generation and Optimization of Tetrahedral Meshes by Advancing Front Technique

International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Wiley, Vol 41, pp.651-674, 1998

MESHING
RESEARCH
CORNER

ERIN-ESSTIN, Universite de Nancy 1, 2, rue Jean Lamour, 54500 Vandoeuvre-les- Nancy, France
E-mail:alain.rassineux@utc.fr

Abstract
An algorithm for tetrahedron mesh generation and optimization with respect to a shape and a size criterion is presented. A well distributed set of nodes is first generated by an octree method, and the set is then triangulated. The advancing front technique is used to mesh the whole volume. Emphasis has been placed on management of the front. The method involves priority construction of enhanced quality tetrahedra. Each face is assigned to a front corresponding to the quality of the best tetrahedron which can be constructed. Elements are destroyed in the case of non-convergence. Optimization procedures make local use of the algorithm used to mesh the complete model. Industrial examples of relatively complex volumes are given, demonstrating that a high quality and optimized mesh can be obtained by the proposed method.