Unstructured surface and volume decimation of tessellated domains

<p>A general algorithm for decimating unstructured discretized data sets is presented. The discretized space may be a planar triangulation, a general 3D surface triangulation, or a 3D tetrahedrization. The decimation algorithm enforces Dirichlet boundary conditions, uses only existing vertices, and assumes manifold geometry. Local dynamic vertex removal is performed without history information while preserving the initial topology and boundary geometry. The tessellation at each step of the algorithm is preserved and, in the pathological case, every interior vertex is a candidate for removal. The research focuses on how to remove a vertex from an existing unstructured n-dimensional tessellation, not on the formulation of decimation criteria. Criteria for removing a candidate vertex may be based on geometric properties or any scalar governing function specific to the application. Use of scalar functions to adaptively control or optimize tessellation resolution is particularly applicable to the computer graphics, computational fluids, and structural analysis disciplines. Potential applications in the geologic exploration and medical or industrial imaging fields are promising.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

dissertation

Department dc:contributor.department

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

1995

Author dc:creator

• Renze, Kevin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• James H. Oliver

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-9973

Identifier

archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/10713/

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dr.lib.iastate.edu:20.500.12876/63890