Mesh deformation with exact surface reconstruction using a reduced radial basis function approach

Abstract

This paper presents a novel reduced radial basis function approach with exact surface reconstruction. The new approach combines two well proven mesh deformation algorithms in a three step approach. In a first pre-processing step an explicit reduction of radial basis function points is performed using a k-d tree. In the second step the classic radial basis function interpolation is used to propagate the deformation field. In a last post-processing step an exact surface reconstruction is achieved using an efficient Delaunay graph mapping approach. The new mesh deformation approach is compared to the two original approaches by investigating a 2D viscous mesh test case. The applicability of the new approach to 3D is shown via an aeroelastic relevant wing test case.