Automatic and a priori refinement of three-dimensional meshes based on feature recognition techniques

This work presents the general evolution of CAD/CAM systems for a better integration of all functions involved in the design and manufacturing process of mechanical parts (simultaneous engineering). We are proposing here an approach of the automatic three-dimensional mesh generation problem featuring a pre-optimization scheme based on the "a priori" evaluation of a dual geometric model (CSG-Exact B-Rep) in order to identify, directly and automatically, geometric features causing stress concentration. We provide more precise knowledge on how geometric features are identified and used in order to calculate a nodal density field across the parts that is more interesting for analysis or representation purposes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.