Generating grids directly on CAD database surfaces using a parametric evaluator approach

A very important, but often overlooked step in grid generation is acquiring a suitable geometry definition of the vehicle to be analyzed. In the past, geometry was usually obtained by generating a number of cross-sections of each component. A number of recent efforts have focussed on non-uniform rational B-spline surfaces (NURBS) to provide as single type of analytic surface to deal with inside the grid generator. This approach has required the development of tools to read other types of surfaces and convert them, either exactly or by approximation, into a NURBS surface. This paper describes a more generic parametric evaluator approach, which does not rely on a particular surface type internal to the grid generation system and is less restrictive in the number of surface types that can be represented exactly. This approach has been implemented in the McDonnell Douglas grid generation system, MACGS, and offers direct access to all types of surfaces from a Unigraphics part file

Computational Intelligence In CAD/CAM Applications

This paper presents a fundamental, direct, and powerful approach to the surface/surface intersection problem in CAD/CAM applications. The algorithm is designed and implemented in three steps: a) Preprocessing- locate the potentially intersecting sections of the surfaces and decompose the surfaces into surface elements within specified flatness tolerance; b) Intersection- decompose the possibly intersecting pairs of surface elements into continuous surface triangulations to find the approximate intersections between the pairs of surface elements; c) Postprocessing-assemble the intersection primitives into curves of intersection, refine the accuracy of computed intersection points, and compact the intersection curves. This surface/surface intersection algorithm is applicable to the widest class, C°, of parametric surfaces, an enhancement over the existing algorithms applicable to only Ck, k≥ 1, surfaces. This implementation, based on computational intelligence, requires no human interaction for intersection curve pattern recognition

Magnetic and Mössbauer study of metal‐zeolite interaction in catalysts

Molecular sieve aluminosilicates, such as ZSM‐5 and mordenite, when impregnated with highly dispersed Fe, yield catalysts for the selective conversion of coal‐derived syngas (CO+H2) to liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Fe performs the primary Fischer‐Tropsch (FT) syngas to yield light olefins which are converted by the acidic (H+) and shape‐selective function of the zeolite to high octane gasoline components. The physical aspects of the Fe‐mordenite interaction studied by magnetic measurements, Mössbauer, and IR spectroscopy are reported and correlations with the catalytic properties are drawn. Mordenite samples with [SiO2/Al2O3] ratio in the range 12 – 60 were impregnated with 15 wt. % Fe using Fe3(CO)1 2; decarbonylation yielded superparamagmetic dispersions of γ‐Fe2O3, in the range 1.4–5.0 nm; the smallest particles were obtained for a ratio=17. Hydrogen chemisorption also revealed a similar trend in Fe dispersions. No samples, other than the one with a ratio=60 and containing the largest particles could be carbided under usual conditions. The acidity of the mordenite and the aromatics fraction in liquid hydrocarbons from syngas conversion also showed maxima at a ratio=17. The presence of a strong metal‐support interaction between Fe and mordenite was thus influenced by the varying ratios in the mordenite in a manner that paralleled the acidity and catalytic activity