Mesh Generation for High Performance Computing: Current Trends and Applications

Steven J. Owen

Statement of Current Work

Recent work involved development of a new hexahedral-dominant mesh generation algorithm known as Hex-Morphing. This method begins with a tetrahedral mesh and systematically converts tetrahedra into hexahedra using local topological operations. Preceding this work, was the development of the Quad-Morphing algorithm. This algorthm generates an all-quadrilateral mesh from a surface mesh of triangles. More than simply combining triangles, the Quad-Morphing algorithm defines triangle transformations which result in a high quality all-quadrilateral surface mesh.

Other work includes developing a method for moving meshes for MEMs applications, several techniques for definining element sizing on surface meshes, and development of an algorithm for transitioning between hex and tet shaped elements using pyramid shaped elements.

Since paametric representations of geometry are frequently inadequate for mesh generation applications, Steve has also worked on techniques for reparamaterization of surfaces. Smooth interpolation of facetted surface representations is also a topic of recent interest.

Prior to his work at Ansys Inc, Steve worked as a software manager at Brigham Young University helping to develop GMS, a comprehensive pre and post processor for groundwater flow and transport modelling. His Master's work involved development of an algorithm for interpolation of three-dimensional scattered data for purposes of geotechnical site characterization.

Selected Publications

Owen, Steven J. and Sunil Saigal "H-Morph: An Indirect Approach to Advancing Front Hex Meshing", accepted to special edition of International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering on Unstructured Mesh Generation, (to be published Sept. 2000)

Vladimir Zhulin, Steve Owen and Dale Ostergaard "Finite Element Based Electrostatic-Structural Coupled Analysis with Automated Mesh Morphing", Third Annual Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Microsystems (MSM 2000) San Diego, CA, March 2000

Owen, Steven J. and Sunil Saigal "Surface Mesh Sizing Control", International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering Vol. 47 No. 1, (2000) pp. 497-511

Owen, Steven J. "Constrained Triangulation: Application to Hex-Dominant Mesh Generation", Proceedings, 8th International Meshing Roundtable, Lake Tahoe, CA, October 1999 pp. 31-41

Owen, Steven J. "Non-Simplicial Unstructured Mesh Generation", Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, April, 1999

Owen, Steven J., M. L. Staten, S. A. Canann, and S. Saigal "Q-Morph: An Indirect Approach to Advancing Front Quad Meshing", International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol 44, No. 9, (1999) pp. 1317-1340

Owen, Steven J., "A Survey of Unstructured Mesh Generation Technology", Proceedings 7th International Meshing Roundtable, Dearborn, MI, October 1998

Owen, Steven J., Matthew L. Staten, Scott A Canann and Sunil Saigal "Quad-Morphing: Advancing Front Quad Meshing Using Triangle Transformations", Proceedings 7th International Meshing Roundtable, Dearborn, MI, October 1998

Tristano, Joseph R., Steven J. Owen, and Scott A. Canann, "Advancing Front Surface Mesh Generation in Parametric Space Using a Riemannian Surface Definition," Proceedings 7th International Meshing Roundtable, Dearborn, MI, October 1998

Staten, Matthew L., Scott A. Canann and Steven J. Owen, "BMSWEEP: Locating Interior Nodes During Sweeping," Proceedings 7th International Meshing Roundtable, Dearborn, MI, October 1998 (submitted to Engineering With Computers)

Owen, S.J. and Sunil Saigal. "Neighborhood-Based Element Sizing Control for Finite Element Surface Meshing", Proceedings 6th International Meshing Roundtable, Park City, UT, October 1997

Owen, S.J., Scott Canann and Sunil Saigal. "Pyramid Elements for Maintaining Tetrahedra to Hexahedra Conformability" AMD-Vol.220, Proceedings Special Session on Trends in Unstructured Mesh Generation: 1997 Joint ASME/ASCE/SES Summer Meeting, June 29-July 2, 1997, Northwestern University, Evanston IL.

Owen, S.J., Jones, N.L., Holland, J., "A Comprehensive Modeling Environment for the Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Transport." Engineering With Computers, 1996.

Jones, N.L., Owen, S.J., Perrie, E., "Plume Characterization Using Natural Neighbor Interpolation", Proceedings Geo-Environment 2000. New Orleans, Feb. 1995.

Zundel, A.K., Saito, T., Owen, S.J., Sederberg, T.W., Christiansen, H.N., "Gas Flow Visualization for Combustion Analysis," Energy and Fuels, Volume 7, No. 6, 1993, pp. 891-896.

Owen, Steven J. "An Implementation of Natural Neighbor Interpolation in Three Dimensions", Master's Thesis, Brigham Young University, pp.118, 1992

Professional Acivities

Chairman, 9th International Meshing Roundtable (to be held New Orleans, LA. October 2-6 2000)

Steering Committee, Technical Papers co-chair, 8th International Meshing Roundtable, South Lake Tahoe, CA. October 1999

Guest Editor for special edition of International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering on Unstructured Mesh Generation. To be published September 2000.

Symposium co-chair. 2nd Symposium on Trends in Unstructured Mesh Generation, held in conjunction with the Fifth US National Congress on Computational Mechanics, Boulder CO. August 1999

Architect of Meshing Research Corner website, A comprehensive resource for mesh generation literature. 1995-present.