A Framework for Finite Element Mesh Quality Improvement and Visualization in Orthopaedic Biomechanics

The finite element method (FEM) is an invaluable tool in the numerical simulation of biological processes. FEM entails discretization of the structure of interest into elements. This discretization process is termed finite element meshing. The validity of the solution obtained is highly dependent on the quality of the mesh used. Mesh quality can decrease with increased complexity of the structure of interest, as is often evident when meshing biologic structures. This necessitated the development/implementation of generalized mesh quality improvement algorithms.