Clustering: Automated Detail Suppression Using Virtual Topology

AMD-Vol. 220 Trends in Unstructured Mesh Generation, ASME, pp.57-64, July 1997

MESHING
RESEARCH
CORNER

Alla Sheffer and Michel Bercovier:Institute of Computer Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
e-mail: sheffa@cs.huji.ac.il
Ted Blacker: Fluid Dynamics International, 500 Davis St., Suite 600, Evanston, Illinois 60201.
e-mail: ted@ns.fdi.com

presented at
The 1997 Joint ASME/ASCE/SES Summer Meeting
June 29-July 2, 1997
Northwestern University
Evanston Illinois

Abstract
Model adjustment for meshing is one of the most cumbersome steps in generation of a finite-element mesh. While many different methods for automatic mesh generation exist, the adjustment of the model so it will be suitable for those methods, remains time consuming and often requires extensive user interaction.

In this work a new automated method for model simplification is suggested. The method uses virtual topology concept as introduced in our previous work, and provides the means to simplify the model topology so it will be suitable for meshing, this without changing the geometry.

The algorithm is based on clustering of planar facets approximating the model faces into regions, based on angle and distance criteria. Then based on resulting clusters analysis, the model faces are virtually merged or collapsed, achieving topological simplification of the model. The method is based on computations of plane relations and therefore is very efficient.