A direct method for the automatic discretization of 3D parametric curves

We have developed an automatic mesh generation system featuring an automatic and a priori refinement process based on feature recognition techniques and advancing front methods. A crucial step in the overall method consists in discretizing the edges and surfaces of the input B-Rep structure with the ability to respect as closely as possible a nodal spacing function across the parts that are most interesting for analysis or representation purposes. The work presented here focuses on the discretization of three-dimensional parametric curves with strong variations of curvature with respect to a nodal spacing function having steep gradients. This algorithm is particularly suitable for FE mesh generation purposes but also for many engineering applications for which a 3D model has to be triangulated. We will tackle, in this context, the use of the technique in order to mesh parametric curves with a specified discretization tolerance. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.