Keywords: finite element data transfer, finite element mesh mapping, topology based mapping, localization map, walking algorithm, mesh traversal, advancing front.

This paper deals with the transfer of finite element data between mutually different, simplex finite element meshes discretizing the same geometrical model. The work, described in the paper, focuses on a construction of the localization map defining for each node of the target mesh, onto which the data are to be transferred, the closest element of the original source mesh. Instead of adopting commonly applied strategies constructing the map using a spatial index based on various tree or dynamic cell data structures, a different approach utilising the topology of the mesh is introduced. The actual localization is performed using a walking algorithm, which is based on the traversal between neighbouring elements of the source mesh from an initial element towards the processed node. The order in which the individual nodes of the target mesh are processed is driven by the nodal connectivity of the target mesh and is implemented using an advancing front. This ensures that only those target nodes that have as a neighbour an already processed node, are ready for localization. To make the algorithm efficient and reliable, the implementation also relies on the classification of the processed meshes to the underlying geometrical model. The performance of the proposed approach is demonstrated with a three-dimensional real-world example.

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to the book description
purchase this book (price £75 +P&P)