Feature-based design and finite element mesh generation for functional surfaces

Abstract

This paper describes an approach to feature-based design and feature-based mesh generation for multi-featured functional surfaces. Unlike standard free-form parametric surface representation where the parametric surface patch plays the key role in both surface design and finite element mesh generation, we propose an approach to these two tasks which proceeds from the level of a complete feature (for example, a pocket or channel). The result is a more direct method for modeling functional surface characteristics and a more efficient feature-based implementation of Delaunay surface triangulation.