Topology-Oriented Deformation of FE-Meshes in Iterative Reverse Engineering Processes

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Ralph Stelzer
• Subject Area: Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development
• Term: from 2011 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 195604115

In some cases, considerable effort must be put into repeated Reverse Engineering and FEA meshing. This is the case, for instance, when the local geometry of physical components changes iteratively (for example when spotting forming dies) or with objects of similar topology, such as anatomical objects (for example medical objects), for which scanning has to be repeated again and again, and for which a new FEA model has to be created. The goal of the applicants current project (STE 1452-9-1) is to generate new FEA calculation models by adapting existing meshes (for instance, created using the CAD model) or uniquely created FEA meshes based on scan data, thereby maintaining meshing knowledge (constraints, material, element type, etc.). The project was able to verify the engineered methods suitability for adapting these new meshes to the topologically changed geometry. Thus, we can bypass the time-consuming phase of Reverse Engineering, as well as of new meshing.In a subsequent approach (STE 1452-9-2), these results must be validated for real components, and standardised interfaces have to be considered. In addition, previous studies have only taken surface elements into account. However, it is also important to adapt the inner mesh nodes in a way that minimises energy, this procedure will be treated later. Project activities are also complemented by a pattern recognition procedure able to handle geometric primitives separately.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants