Some modeling features for two-dimensional isoparametric and isogeometric finite element analysis

Resumo

This work describes some modeling features of an interactive graphics system for finite element
simulations in two dimensions. The specific objective of this article is to describe the strategy for domain
decomposition into patches ready for isoparametric and isogeometric analysis. The main objective of this system
in the future is to provide students and researchers of computational mechanics with an open educational tool for
understanding the integration of geometric modeling, mesh generation, finite element analysis, and visualization
of results. The presented geometric modeling resources are based on the Half-Edge topological data structure. The
system is developed in Python, based on the object-oriented programming paradigm, and uses the Qt user interface
system. Modeling is performed through the interactive creation of parametric curves of various types: polygonal
lines, quadratic and cubic Bezier curves, composite cubic Bezier curves, circles, circle arcs, ellipses, ellipse arcs,
and NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-splines). The system automatically recognizes the creation of closed
regions.