Abstract: | Finite element modelling, employing updated Lagrangian techniques, is used extensively in the design and analysis of bulk forming processes. However, the full 3‐D capability has not seen widespread use in the automotive, aerospace, and, related industries due to, among other reasons, the need for remeshing, or, representation of the workpiece with a new finite element mesh as the analysis progresses. Automating the remeshing procedure of the deformed workpiece geometry would reduce the time required for a 3‐D analysis by several orders of magnitude. This paper discusses an algorithm for generating a new mesh to represent the deformed workpiece geometry during the analysis. The procedure is used to perform a 3‐D analysis of a valve forging problem. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |