This paper on "Interaction Resolution for Differing Classes of Finite/Discrete Element Processes" was presented at the NAFEMS World Congress on Design, Simulation & Optimisation: Reliability & Applicability of Computational Methods - 9-11 April 1997, Stuttgart, Germany.

Summary

This paper discusses algorithms for interaction resolution for discrete bodies represented by simple boundary representations e.g. facets of finite elements, complex boundary representations and implicit functions. Particular emphasis is placed on spatial sorting i.e. the identification of the closest neighbours to a body with which interaction resolution has to be performed. Several examples are presented that show no spatial sorting technique is ideal for all applications. and a flexible searching tool should have modular structure with several different sorting algorithms.