9.3  Automating geometry and meshing tasks.

With all of the advanced research and development that has gone into the meshing and geometry problem, a push-button solution for any arbitrary solid model may seem like the ideal objective of any meshing tool. Although for many cases, this would be the best solution, for others it may not even be desirable. A push-button solution assumes a certain amount of trust in the geometric reasoning the software chooses to provide. This may be more trust than an occasional user who is tasked with a high consequence simulation may be willing to give. Even if the user is willing to accept full automation, in many cases, the geometric complexity of the model may be beyond the capability of current algorithms to adequately resolve.

On the other hand, once the user is familiar with the characteristics of the solutions that the software provides, they may not be concerned with examining and intervening on every detail of the model creation process. Instead, in the interest of increasing efficiency, they may want the fastest solution possible. Providing the option for the user to automate as much of the geometry and meshing process as possible is another important aspect of ITEM.

For various characteristic geometric problems that are encountered in a solid model, ITEM can determine from the potential geometric solutions, which of them may be most applicable and apply that solution without any user intervention. For many configurations of geometry, a completely automated solution may be available. For others, only a portion of the process may be able to be automated. Where an adequate solution cannot be determined automatically, the smart options described above are available to help guide the user. As new advances in geometric reasoning and advanced meshing algorithms are developed, ITEM will incorporate these into the solutions for automation.

It should be clear that ITEM is not intended to be a fully automated system for meshing solid models. Instead it is intended to be a flexible environment that will guide the user through the model generation process by offering solution alternatives and providing automation should the user choose. The remainder of this document is organized according to the basic workflow used in ITEM. The objective is to describe the general problems that may be encountered in developing an analysis model and how ITEM and Cubit may be used to address the problems. In developing this environment, many new innovative tools were invented and developed to help support this new approach to mesh and model generation.