Idealized Models for FEA Derived from Generative Modeling Processes Based on Extrusion Primitives

Abstract

Shape idealization transformations are very common when adapting a CAD component to FEA requirements. Here, an idealization approach is proposed that is based on generative shape processes used to decompose an initial B-Rep object, i.e. extrusion processes. The corresponding primitives form the basis of candidate sub domains for idealization and their connections conveyed through the generative processes they belong to, bring robustness to set up the appropriate connections between idealized sub domains. Taking advantage of an existing construction tree as available in a CAD software does not help much because it may be complicated to use it for idealization processes. Using generative processes attached to an object that are no longer reduced to a single construction tree but to a graph containing all non trivial construction trees, is more useful for the engineer to evaluate variants of idealization. From this automated decomposition, each primitive is analyzed to define whether it can idealized or not. Subsequently, geometric interfaces between primitives are taken into account to determine more precisely the idealizable sub domains and their contours when primitives are incrementally merged to come back to the initial object.