Analyzing complex 3D models using finite element analysis software requires suppressing parts that are not likely to influence the analysis results, but may significantly improve the computational performance both in terms of mesh size and mesh quality. The feature suppression step often depends on the context and application. Currently, most analysts perform this step manually. This step can take a long time to perform on a complex model and can be tedious in nature. In this paper, we present a rule-based approach to feature suppression. We have developed a decision-tree based representation for capturing feature suppression rules. We have also developed utilities in Pro/Engineer CAD system to identify features that meet these rules and suppress them. We present several examples to illustrate the value of the proposed approach.

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