A hierarchical structure for automatic meshing and adaptive FEM analysis

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Abstract
This paper deals initially with a new algorithm for generating automatically, from solid models of mechanical parts, finite element meshes that are organized as spatially addressable quaternary trees (for 2D work) or octal trees (for 3D work). Because such meshes are inherently hierarchical as well as spatially addressable, they permit efficient substructuring techniques to be used for both global analysis and incremental re‐meshing and re‐analysis. The paper summarizes the global and incremental techniques, and presents some results from an experimental closed loop 2D system in which meshing, analysis, error evaluation, and re‐meshing and re‐analysis are done automatically and adaptively. The paper concludes with a progress report on a 3D implementation.