MODELING REQUIREMENTS FOR FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Efficient modelling of many problems in the finite-element analysis of structural and other continuum problems requires substantial simplifi cation of the design geometry. Tools are needed for the efficient tran sformation of the detailed design geometry into an appropriate analysi s model. It is argued that the medial axis and surface transform of ge ometric models provide an alternative representation that has many att ractive properties for analysis feature recognition and simplification . Strategies for identifying possible idealizations, controlling their application, and estimating the associated errors appear feasible. So me requirements for geometric-modelling tools are identified.