A medial-axes-based interpolation method for solidification simulation

The medial axis of a solid is the locus of inscribed circles/spheres with maximum diameters such that the circles/spheres touch the maximum number of edges/surfaces of the solid, without intersecting with any of them. Although a medial axis/surface may appear to be similar to the corresponding mid-surface of the solid, it stores information regarding the thickness of the section. Based on this feature of medial axes, an innovative and computationally inexpensive solidification interpolation method is proposed in this paper. The method offers a compromise solution between traditional numerical methods and the geometry driven section modulus methods. Even though the proposed method may not be as accurate as traditional numerical methods, it gives a rapid "feel" of the design to its creator during the interrogation stage. The solidification results are compared with a finite element simulation as well as the simple section modulus method. The potential benefits of this technique can be realised during an optimisation cycle where repetitive calculations are needed even for small design changes. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.