Combining point distribution models with shape models based on finite element analysis

This paper describes a method of combining two approaches to modelling flexible objects. Modal analysis using finite element methods (FEM) generates a set of vibrational modes for a single shape. Point distribution models (PDM) generate a statistical model of shape and shape variation from a set of example shapes. A new approach is described which generates vibrational modes when few example shapes are available and changes smoothly to using more statistical modes of variation when a large data set is presented. Results are given for both synthetic and real examples. Experiments using the models for image search show that the combined version performs better than either the PDM or FEM models alone. © 1995.