Hexahedral mesh generation by medial surface subdivision: Part I. Solids with convex edges

A method is presented for subdividing a large class of solid objects into topologically simple subregions suitable for automatic finite element meshing with hexahedral elements. The technique uses a geometric property of a solid, its medial surface, to define the necessary subregions. The subregions are defined explicitly to be one of only 13 possible types. The subdividing cuts are between parts of the object in geometric proximity and produce good quality meshes of hexahedral elements. The method as introduced here is applicable to solids with convex edges and vertices, but the extension to complete generality is feasible.