BMSweep: Locating Interior Nodes During Sweeping

BMSweep is a new algorithm to determine the location of interior nodes while generating hexahedral meshes using the volume sweeping method. Volume sweeping is performed on two and one half-dimensional volumes by identifying a ‘source’ surface which is meshed with quadrilaterals. These quadrilaterals are then swept through the volume towards a ‘target’ surface generating layers of hexahedra along the way. BMSweep uses background mesh interpolation to locate interior nodes during sweeping. The interpolation method provides for quality element creation, while allowing the volume boundary to vary. The cross-section of the volume can vary along the length of the sweep, the sweep path need not be linear, and the source and target areas need not be flat. Three dimensional volumes can be swept using BMSweep after being decomposed into two and one half-dimensional subvolumes.