Semantic-preserving mesh direct drilling

Advances in modeling of discrete models have allowed the development of approaches for direct mesh modeling and modification. These tools mainly focus on modeling the visual appearance of the shape which is a key criterion for animation or surgical simulation. Most of the time, the resulting mesh quality as well as the semantics preservation capabilities are not considered as key features. These are the limits we overcome in this paper to enable fast and efficient mesh modifications when carrying out numerical simulations of product behaviors using the Finite Element (FE) analysis. In our approach, the modifications involve the resolution of an optimization problem where the constraints come from the shapes of the operating tools and the FE groups (sets of mesh entities) used to support the semantic information (e.g. boundary conditions, materials) contained in the FE mesh model and required for FE simulation. The overall mesh quality, a key point for accurate FE analysis, is guaranteed while minimizing an objective function based on a mechanical model of bar networks which smoothes the repositioning of nodes. Principle of the devised mesh operators is exemplified through the description of a 2D/3D mesh drilling operator. The proposed mesh modification operators are useful in the context of fast maintenance studies and help engineers to assess alternative design solutions aimed at improving the physical behavior of industrial machinery

Semantic-preserving mesh direct drilling

Advances in modeling of discrete models have allowed the development of approaches for direct mesh modeling and modification. These tools mainly focus on modeling the visual appearance of the shape which is a key criterion for animation or surgical simulation. Most of the time, the resulting mesh quality as well as the semantics preservation capabilities are not considered as key features. These are the limits we overcome in this paper to enable fast and efficient mesh modifications when carrying out numerical simulations of product behaviors using the Finite Element (FE) analysis. In our approach, the modifications involve the resolution of an optimization problem where the constraints come from the shapes of the operating tools and the FE groups (sets of mesh entities) used to support the semantic information (e.g. boundary conditions, materials) contained in the FE mesh model and required for FE simulation. The overall mesh quality, a key point for accurate FE analysis, is guaranteed while minimizing an objective function based on a mechanical model of bar networks which smoothes the repositioning of nodes. Principle of the devised mesh operators is exemplified through the description of a 2D/3D mesh drilling operator. The proposed mesh modification operators are useful in the context of fast maintenance studies and help engineers to assess alternative design solutions aimed at improving the physical behavior of industrial machinery

Semantic-preserving mesh direct drilling

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Direct modification of FE meshes preserving group information

Nowadays, the mainstream methodology for product behavior analysis and improvement relies on the fol-lowing steps: 1) conceptual solution proposal and CAD prototyping, 2) mesh model creation for Finite Element (FE) analysis, 3) preparation of complex mesh model as specification of semantic information for particular behavior study, 4) advanced FE simu-lation, 5) result analysis and optimization loops. The semantics relative to the simulation model are often associated to mesh entities through the use of so-called mesh groups. During the optimization phase, geometric modifications are generally performed on the CAD model. This requires a complete updating of the FE mesh model repeating all the above listed FE mesh preparation (re-creation of all the groups). In the present paper, we propose a new framework for CAD-less FE analysis. It comes to apply shape modi-fication operators directly to the FE mesh while ex-ploiting and maintaining the available FE semantic information. As a result, multiple steeps of the design process loop, as CAD and mesh model generation, mesh group creation, are avoided. In this paper, we focus on two 3D mesh modification operators: the planar cracking and the drillin

Direct modification of semanticaly-enriched finite element meshes

International audienceBehaviour analysis loop is largely performed on virtual product model before its physical manufacturing. The last avoids high expenses in terms of money and time spent on intermediate manufacturing. It is gainful from the reality to the virtuality but the process could be further optimized especially during the product behaviour optimization phase. This process involves repetition of four main processing steps: CAD design and modification, mesh creation, Finite Element (FE) model generation with the association of physical and geometric data, FE Analysis. The product behaviour analysis loop is performed on the rst design solution as well as on the numerous successive product optimization loops. Each design solution evaluation necessitates the same time as required for the first product design that is particularly crucial in the context of maintenance. In this paper we propose a new framework for CAD-less product optimisation through FE analysis which reduces the model preparation activities traditionally required for FE model creation. More concretely, the idea is to directly operate on the rstly created FE mesh, enriched with physical/geometric semantics, to perform the product modi cations required to achieve its optimised version. In order to accomplish the proposed CAD-less FE analysis framework, modification operators acting on both the mesh geometry and the associated semantics need to be devised. In this paper we discuss the underlying concepts and present possible components for the development of such operators. A high-level operator speci cation is proposed according to a modular structure that allows an easy realisation of di erent mesh modification operators. Here, two instances of this high-level operator are described: the planar cracking and the drilling. The realised prototypes validated on industrial FE models show clearly the feasibility of this approach

Direct Modification of Semantically-Enriched Finite Element Meshes

Behaviour analysis loop is largely performed on virtual product model before its physical manufacturing. The last avoids high expenses in terms of money and time spent on intermediate manufacturing. It is gainful from the reality to the virtuality but the process could be further optimized especially during the product behaviour optimization phase. This process involves repetition of four main processing steps: CAD design and modification, mesh creation, Finite Element (FE) model generation with the association of physical and geometric data, FE Analysis. The product behaviour analysis loop is performed on the first design solution as well as on the numerous successive product optimization loops. Each design solution evaluation necessitates the same time as required for the first product design that is particularly crucial in the context of maintenance. In this paper we propose a new framework for CAD-less product optimisation through FE analysis which reduces the model preparation activities traditionally required for FE model creation. More concretely, the idea is to directly operate on the firstly created FE mesh, enriched with physical/geometric semantics, to perform the product modications required to achieve its optimised version. In order to accomplish the proposed CAD-less FE analysis framework, modification operators acting on both the mesh geometry and the associated semantics need to be devised. In this paper we discuss the underlying concepts and present possible components for the development of such operators. A high-level operator specification is proposed according to a modular structure that allows an easy realisation of different mesh modication operators. Here, two instances of this high-level operator are described: the planar cracking and the drilling. The realised prototypes validated on industrial FE models show clearly the feasibility of this approach

Direct modification of FE meshes preserving group information

Nowadays, the mainstream methodology for product behavior analysis and improvement relies on the fol-lowing steps: 1) conceptual solution proposal and CAD prototyping, 2) mesh model creation for Finite Element (FE) analysis, 3) preparation of complex mesh model as specification of semantic information for particular behavior study, 4) advanced FE simu-lation, 5) result analysis and optimization loops. The semantics relative to the simulation model are often associated to mesh entities through the use of so-called mesh groups. During the optimization phase, geometric modifications are generally performed on the CAD model. This requires a complete updating of the FE mesh model repeating all the above listed FE mesh preparation (re-creation of all the groups). In the present paper, we propose a new framework for CAD-less FE analysis. It comes to apply shape modi-fication operators directly to the FE mesh while ex-ploiting and maintaining the available FE semantic information. As a result, multiple steeps of the design process loop, as CAD and mesh model generation, mesh group creation, are avoided. In this paper, we focus on two 3D mesh modification operators: the planar cracking and the drillin

Filleting sharp edges of multi-partitioned volume finite element meshes

International audiencePurpose – The purpose of this paper is to set up a new framework to enable direct modifications of volume meshes enriched with semantic information associated to multiple partitions. An instance of filleting operator is prototyped under this framework and presented in the paper.Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, a generic mesh modification operator has been designed and a new instance of this operator for filleting finite element (FE) sharp edges of tetrahedral multi-partitioned meshes is also pro-posed. The filleting operator works in two main steps. The outer skin of the tetrahedral mesh is first deformed to round user-specified sharp edges while satisfying constraints relative to the shape of the so-called Virtual Group Boundaries. Then, in the filleting area, the positions of the inner nodes are relaxed to improve the aspect ratio of the mesh elements.Findings – The classical mainstream methodology for product behaviour optimization involves the repetition of four steps: CAD modelling, meshing of CAD models, enrichment of models with FE simulation semantics and FEA. This paper highlights how this methodology could be simplified by two steps: simulation model modification and FEA. The authors set up a new framework to enable direct modifications of volume meshes enriched with semantic information associated to multiple and the corresponding fillet operator is devised.Research limitations/implications – The proposed framework shows only a paradigm of direct modifications of semantic enriched meshes. It could be further more improved by adding or changing the modules inside. The fillet operator does not take into account the exact radius imposed by user.With this proposed fillet operator the mesh element density may not be enough high to obtain wished smoothness.Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified industry need to speed up the product behaviour analysis process by directly modifying the simulation semantic enriched meshes