Face clustering of a large-scale CAD model for surface mesh generation

A detailed CAD model needs manual clean-up, or simplifying operations, before a finite element mesh can be automatically generated because such a model consists of hundreds or thousands of faces many of which may be smaller than a desired mesh element size. We propose an automated face clustering method used as a pre-process of surface mesh generation. By decomposing a model into face clusters so that each region can be projected onto a simple parametric surface such as a plane, we obtain a final mesh as an aggregate of sub-meshes for respective clusters without time-consuming manual preparation work. The projection onto a surface realises re-parameterisation as well as suppression of small details. The main contribution of this work is the integration of (1) a greedy algorithm for combining faces into clusters, and (2) geometric indices that reflect various aspects of a preferable shape for a cluster. The validity of the approach is demonstrated with results of clustering and mesh generation for a realistic-scale CAD model. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.