Automatic Geometry Adaptive Quadrilateral Mesh Generation Using Medial Axis Transform

Abstract The medial axis transform (MAT) has been used in meshing algorithms for decomposition (Tam 1991; Price 1995; Price 1997) and for decomposition and termination (Quadros 2000: Quadros Thesis 2000). This paper describes an algorithm that uses the MAT for quad meshing that is adapted to the variation of geometric feature size in the domain. The algorithm is a modification of Lay Tracks, an automatic quad meshing algorithm that uses the MAT for both subdividing the domain and for terminating the advancing front of the mesh. The modification involves the adaptive placing of nodes inside the subdivided regions and makes use of the radius function available in the MAT to identify feature size and adapt the node spacing and mesh size to it. The algorithm has been implemented and tested on some typical geometries. Results on the quality of the mesh obtained are presented.