Feature-aware reconstruction of trimmed splines using Ricci flow with metric optimization

The lack of a compelling tool to automatically or semi-automatically create analysis-suitable spline spaces hampers the progress of the isogeometric framework. In this work, we review current techniques to analyze so-called “trimmed” CAD models and present a new approach, based on surface Ricci flow with metric optimization, that can be used for rebuilding trimmed CAD objects. The method is both theoretically grounded and suitable for use on real engineering objects. We demonstrate its efficacy by rebuilding both the US Army's DEVCOM Generic Hull vehicle and the chassis of the National Crash Analysis Center's 1996 Dodge Neon into sets of watertight splines. These reconstructed splines are used in isogeometric analysis on model parts and in performing hybrid finite element/isogeometric crash analysis for the Neon vehicle.