Approaches to the Automatic Generation and Control of Finite Element Meshes

Abstract

This review paper discusses the algorithmic approaches being taken to the development of finite element mesh generators capable of automatically discretizing general domains without the need for user intervention. The paper demonstrates that because of the modeling demands placed on an automatic mesh generator, all the approaches taken to date produce unstructured meshes. Consideration is also given to both a priori and a posteriori mesh control devices for automatic mesh generators as well as their integration with geometric modeling and adaptive analysis procedures.