An Adaptive Virtual Node Algorithm with Robust Mesh Cutting

Abstract

We present a novel virtual node algorithm (VNA) for changing tetrahedron mesh topology to represent arbitrary cutting triangulated surfaces. Our approach addresses a number of shortcomings in the original VNA of [MBF04]. First, we generalize the VNA so that cuts can pass through tetrahedron mesh vertices and lie on mesh edges and faces. The original algorithm did not make sense for these cases and required often ambiguous perturbation of the cutting surface to avoid them. Second, we develop an adaptive approach to the definition of embedded material used for element duplication. The original algorithm could only handle a limited number of configurations which restricted cut surfaces to have curvature at the scale of the tetrahedron elements. Our adaptive approach allows for cut surfaces with curvatures independent of the embedding tetrahedron mesh resolution. Finally, we present a novel, provably-robust floating point mesh intersection routine that accurately registers triangulated surface cuts against the background tetrahedron mesh without the need for exact arithmetic.