Mesh generation for computational analysis. Part I: Electromagnetic and technical considerations for mesh generation

Geometric meshes used in the finite-element method and related techniques must meet three requirements: they must model geometric shapes adequately; they must respect physical phenomena of importance in the problem (for example crack singularities); and they must provide high local accuracy in regions of particular importance. Only simplex elements can be guaranteed to model geometry correctly if used with fully automatic mesh generators. Only adaptive mesh refinement can model in accordance with the characteristics of the physical solution. Technical specifications requiring high local accuracy can be accommodated in automatic mesh generation by permitting the user to specify a locally varying accuracy index.