System and method for converting a hex-dominant mesh to an all-hexahedral mesh

Abstract

A modular approach to designing all-hex mesh conversion templates where triangular and rectangular subdivision patterns may arbitrarily be combined on the exterior faces of the templates. The templates can be created for any arbitrary-shaped, complex geometric domain. The all-hex conversion software according to the present invention take as input any type of a hex-dominant mesh and converts it to an all-hex mesh automatically. An all-hex template according to the present invention is a family of modular sub-templates. These sub-templates can be assembled to form all-hex conversion templates for hexes, pyramids, and prisms. There are two types of modular sub-templates, called a core and a cap. For a hex or prism element, one core is defined, which specifies the subdivision patterns of two faces of the input hex or prism. Then four caps are defined for a hex and three caps for a prism to specify the subdivision patterns of the other faces. One can mix and combine two subdivision patterns, rectangular and triangular, freely on the exterior surfaces of a hex, prism, and a pyramid. The all-hex conversion process according to the present invention is suitable for parallel implementation. Using the modular approach of the present invention, a hex-dominant mesh can be converted into an all-hex mesh successfully without losing the mesh conformity.