LayTracks3D: A new approach for meshing general solids using medial axis transform. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quadros, William Roshan
• Is Part Of: Computer aided design. Volume 72(2016)
• Page Start: 102
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: Medial axis transforms -- Hex mesh generation -- Hex-dominant meshing -- Geometry decomposition -- Assembly meshing; Computer-aided design -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Computer graphics -- Periodicals; Conception technique -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Infographie -- Périodiques; Computer graphics; Engineering design -- Data processing; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.00420285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cad.2015.08.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-4485

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents an extension of the all-quad meshing algorithm called LayTracks to generate high quality hex-dominant meshes of general solids. LayTracks3D uses the mapping between the Medial Axis (MA) and the boundary of the 3D domain to decompose complex 3D domains into simpler domains called Tracks. Tracks in 3D have no branches and are symmetric, non-intersecting, orthogonal to the boundary, and the shortest path from the MA to the boundary. These properties of tracks result in desired meshes with near cube shape elements at the boundary, structured mesh along the boundary normal with any irregular nodes restricted to the MA, and sharp boundary feature preservation. The algorithm has been tested on a few industrial CAD models and hex-dominant meshes are shown in the Results section. Work is underway to extend LayTracks3D to generate all-hex meshes. Highlights: The proposed meshing algorithm handles general solids. Output mesh is boundary sensitive and preserves sharp features. Output mesh has very low percentage of non-hex elements. LayTracks3D is based on a mathematically sound formulation of MAT. Extension to all-hex meshing is discussed.