Systems and methods for finite element mesh repair

1. A computer-implemented method of repairing a finite element mesh in a simulation determining behavior of a real-world physical object represented by the finite element mesh, the method comprising:

identifying a non-compliant mesh element in a finite element mesh representing a real-world physical object;

extracting a mesh patch from the finite element mesh that includes the identified non-compliant mesh element;

based on one or more rules executed by a processor, generating an invariant patch topological description for the extracted mesh patch, wherein the generated invariant patch topological description is: (i) a binary sequence, indicated by the one or more rules, that is a function of one or more properties of edges of the extracted mesh patch and (ii) invariant to transformations, specified by the one or more rules, of the extracted mesh patch;

communicating with a database that stores pre-determined repair solutions and obtaining from the database a repair solution corresponding to the generated invariant patch topological description;

automatically repairing the mesh patch in the finite element mesh using the obtained repair solution from the database, and said repairing resulting in a repaired finite element mesh stored in computer memory; and

performing a finite element simulation of the real-world physical object using the repaired finite element mesh stored in the computer memory to determine behavior of the real-world physical object;

said identifying, extracting, generating, communicating, repairing, and performing being implemented by one or more processors in an automated manner.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-compliant mesh element is identified by a finite element simulation preprocessor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-compliant mesh element is identified based on at least one of: an angle, skew, aspect ratio, and geometric property of the non-compliant mesh element.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the extracted mesh patch includes the non-compliant mesh element and each mesh element in the finite element mesh adjacent to the non-compliant mesh element.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more properties of the edges of the extracted mesh patch include edge type of edges along a perimeter of the extracted mesh patch.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the finite element simulation comprises:

providing the repaired finite element mesh to a finite element simulation solver, and the finite element simulation solver responsively using the repaired finite element mesh in the finite element simulation of the real-world physical object.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein repairing the mesh patch in the finite element mesh includes:

modifying node locations in the mesh patch in accordance with conditions of the finite element simulation.

8. A system for repairing a finite element mesh in a simulation determining behavior of a real-world physical object represented by the finite element mesh, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory with computer code instructions stored thereon, the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions being configured to cause the system to:

identify a non-compliant mesh element in a finite element mesh representing a real-world physical object;

extract a mesh patch from the finite element mesh that includes the identified non-compliant mesh element;

based on one or more rules, generate an invariant patch topological description for the extracted mesh patch, wherein the generated invariant patch topological description is: (i) a binary sequence, indicated by the one or more rules, that is a function of one or more properties of edges of the extracted mesh patch and (ii) invariant to transformations, specified by the one or more rules, of the extracted mesh patch;

communicate with a database that stores pre-determined repair solutions, and obtain from the database a repair solution corresponding to the generated invariant patch topological description;

automatically repair the mesh patch in the finite element mesh using the obtained repair solution from the database, and said repairing resulting in a repaired finite element mesh stored in computer memory; and

perform a finite element simulation of the real-world physical object using the repaired finite element mesh stored in the computer memory to determine behavior of the real-world physical object.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the non-compliant mesh element is identified by a finite element simulation preprocessor.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein to identify the non-compliant mesh element, the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions, are further configured to cause the system to identify the non-compliant mesh element based on at least one of: an angle, skew, aspect ratio, and geometric property of the non-compliant mesh element.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the extracted mesh patch includes the non-compliant mesh element and each mesh element in the finite element mesh adjacent to the non-compliant mesh element.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more properties of the edges of the extracted mesh patch include edge type of edges along a perimeter of the extracted mesh patch.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein to perform the finite element simulation, the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions, are further configured to cause the system to:

provide the repaired finite element mesh to a finite element simulation solver, and the finite element simulation solver responsively using the repaired finite element mesh in the finite element simulation of the real-world physical object.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein to repair the mesh patch in the finite element mesh, the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions, are further configured to cause the system to:

modify node locations in the mesh patch in accordance with conditions of the finite element simulation.

15. A non-transitory computer program product for repairing a finite element mesh in a simulation determining behavior of a real-world physical object represented by the finite element mesh, the computer program product executed by a server in communication across a network with one or more clients and comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium, the non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

identify a non-compliant mesh element in a finite element mesh representing a real-world physical object;

extract a mesh patch from the finite element mesh that includes the identified non-compliant mesh element;

based on one or more rules, generate an invariant patch topological description for the extracted mesh patch, wherein the generated invariant patch topological description is: (i) a binary sequence, indicated by the one or more rules, that is a function of one or more properties of edges of the extracted mesh patch and (ii) invariant to transformations, specified by the one or more rules, of the extracted mesh patch;

communicate with a database that stores pre-determined repair solutions, and obtain from the database a repair solution corresponding to the generated invariant patch topological description;

automatically repair the mesh patch in the finite element mesh using the obtained repair solution from the database, and said repairing resulting in a repaired finite element mesh stored in computer memory; and

perform a finite element simulation of the real-world physical object using the repaired finite element mesh stored in the computer memory to determine behavior of the real-world physical object.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the non-compliant mesh element is identified by a finite element simulation preprocessor.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to identify the non-compliant mesh element based on at least one of: an angle, skew, aspect ratio, and geometric property of the non-compliant mesh element.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the extracted mesh patch includes the non-compliant mesh element and each mesh element in the finite element mesh adjacent to the non-compliant mesh element.