Adaptive Multiresolution and Quality 3D Meshing from Imaging Data

This paper presents an algorithm to extract adaptive and quality 3D meshes directly from volumetric imaging data primarily Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The extracted tetrahedral and hexahedral meshes are extensively used in the Finite Element Method (FEM). Our comprehensive approach combines bilateral and anisotropic (feature specific) diffusion filtering, with contour spectrum based, relevant isosurface and interval volume selection. Then, a top-down octree subdivision coupled with the dual contouring method is used to rapidly extract adaptive and multiresolution 3D finite element (tetrahedral and hexahedral) meshes from volumetric imaging data. The main contributions are extending the dual contouring method to interval volume tetrahedralization and hexahedralization with curvilinear feature sensitive adaptation. Compared to other tetrahedral extraction methods from interval volumes (Marching Cubes and Marching Tetrahedra), our method generates high quality adaptive multiresolution 3D meshes without introducing any hanging nodes. Our method has the properties of crack prevention, feature preservation and feature sensitivity. CR Categories: I.3.5 [Computation Geometry and Object Modeling]: CSG—Curve, surface, solid and object representations