Impacting the design process using solid modelling and automated finite element mesh generation (Q1111351)

Finite element analysis, historically used primarily as an after-the-fact verification tool, should be an essential part in earlier stages of computer-aided design. To give this ability, the turnaround time for performing a finite element analysis needs to be decreased. This may be done by the use of solid modelling software and of a free mesh generator. The paper describes the application of a solid modeller with high-level operations (Boolean operations as join, subtract, and intersect, and others, as extruding, revolving, or dragging two-dimensional profiles to create three-dimensional objects), combined with the application of an automatic mesh generator. A number of realistic examples (cantilever plate, motorcycle suspension, cantilevered stepped shaft, steering knuckle) were evaluated and demonstrated by instructive figures, partially colour plates. However, there is no hint to the mathematical background of the mesh generator, for this we refer to the papers of \textit{M. S. Shepard} and \textit{M. A. Yerry} [Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 20, 1965-1990 (1984; Zbl 0547.73069)] and \textit{M. S. Shepard}, \textit{M. A. Yerry}, and \textit{P. L. Baehmann} [Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 55, 161-180 (1986; Zbl 0587.73015)].