Finite element modeling within an integrated geometric modeling environment: Part II?Attribute specification, domain differences, and indirect element types

Abstract

This is the second of a two part paper that addresses the integration of finite element modeling and geometric modeling. Instead of considering the integration of currently available systems, this paper addresses both modeling techniques in general terms and identifies the functions that are needed to integrate them, taking full advantage of the capabilities of both. A set of geometric communication operators are identified and defined for use in carrying out this integration process. Part I [1] considered the integration of geometric modeling and finite element mesh generation. This part considers the remaining areas of the specification of finite element analysis attribute information, accounting for domain differences between the geometric and finite element models and the generation of finite element models using element types that are of a lesser dimension than the geometric entity they represent.