A new automatic hexahedral mesher based on cutting

A new method is presented leading to a 20-node brick element mesh for an ar bitrary structure based on a triangulation of the structure's surface. Star ting from a hexahedral master mesh encompassing the structure, the elements which are intersected by the triangulation are determined, cut and remeshe d. The resulting hexahedral mesh can be tied to the underlying elements by multiple point constraints or can be continued throughout the complete stru cture leading to a pure 20-node brick mesh. Several examples show the effec tiveness of the method. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.