An Algorithm for Generating the Centerline of a Branched Tubular Geometry

In this paper, an algorithm for the approximate computation of the centerline of tubular, 3D, arbitrarily shaped geometries is presented. It is based solely on the mesh connectivity, which is used to build approximate local transversal sections from the element edges. The centerline is generated by calculating the centroid of adjacent sections and connecting them properly. The algorithm is generalized for generic geometries, presenting multiple ramifications and interconnections between branches, and will be applied here to a 3D detailed model of the human arterial system.