Mesh Generation for the 2d Nurbs-Enhanced Finite Element Method

Abstract

The first method that enables the fully automatic generation of triangular meshes suitable for the so-called NURBS-enhanced finite element method (NEFEM) is presented. The methodology is able to produce meshes of the desired element size irrespectively of the geometric complexity and always encompassing the exact boundary representation of the domain given by NURBS curves. The strategy enables to completely circumvent the time consuming process of de-featuring complex geometric models before a finite element mesh suitable for the analysis can be produced. Numerical examples demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach and the advantages compared to traditional finite element mesh generators.