The use of finite element analysis during a design process is often restricted to validation phases because of the time needed to prepare the data and the geometric representation of the analysis model. To avoid engineers times and computer resources to be wasted, efficient models must be generated as automatically as possible. Such models may require substantial simplifications of the geometry of a part when it incorporates many geometric aspects connected to the technology of its manufacturing process. Here, polyhedra are used as geometric representations for geometry adaptions purposes because of their significant freedom for shape modifications. These adaptions are carried out through a vertex removal process which transforms a part geometry in accordance with a discrete envelope defined around its initial geometry. This envelope is generated from a mechanical criterion based on an a posteriori error estimator which ensures that all geometric transformations keeping the geometry of the part within this envelope do not significantly change the results of the finite element analysis. Furthermore, the part geometry thus obtained no longer incorporates irrelevant details. Therefore, this geometry is suited to size requirements to attached to the mesh generation process.

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