The process of meshing CAD generated models, consists of two major parts: generation of meshable models from the CAD
data and the subsequent meshing of the models.

The purpose of this project is to provide the tools for transforming CAD data into meshable models, by using the virtual
topology operators introduced in our previous work.

The editing of the CAD data prior to meshing is required to obtain models suitable both for the analysis objectives and the available meshing algorithms. Such editing includes topology correction and validation, detail suppression and decomposition.

Editing the geometry directly (e.g. surface redefinitions) is cumbersome, tedious, and expensive. Introducing virtual topology allows such operations as modifications to the topology only.

This project is a combined research with Fluent Inc., a major developer of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) design and simulation software. The tools for transforming CAD data into meshable models using virtual topology operators are
implemented as part of the GAMBIT CFD preprocessor, (Fluent Inc.).

The application of virtual operators for the transfer process was examined on several real-life models in a study conducted in cooperation with the Research Center of Hutchinson group (Montargis, France), which is one of the leaders in production of industrial rubber parts.

Use of virtual operators to transform CAD data into a meshable model.