The finite element method is an established tool for the analysis of many physical problems that do not have analytical solutions. However, the requirement to generate a finite element mesh can seriously hamper the usefulness of the method, particularly when attempting to perform an adaptive analysis, in which a region may have to be meshed several times before a solution is attained. Our interest in mesh generation arose from our research to develop an elastic and an ultimate limit state design tool for large plate and shell structures. We wished to develop the idea of a design tool that incorporated a finite element solution system, a non-linear geometric and material capability, with error indicators and interactive adaptive mesh generation. Before proceeding to develop our mesh generator, we felt it was unwise and a waste of valuable resources to "reinvent the wheel", thus in this paper we outline the methods available in the mesh generation field and show their versatility and usefulness. We then go on to describe our automatic mesh generator which generates meshes adaptively and in a suitably defined manner using quadrilaterals.

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