Spline to mesh

This guide demonstrates how to convert a 3D spline curve into various types of meshes using SplineBox.

import numpy as np
import pyvista
import splinebox

1. Constructing a Spline

We begin by creating a circular spline.

M = 4
spline = splinebox.Spline(M=M, basis_function=splinebox.Exponential(M), closed=True)
spline.knots = np.array([[0, 0, 1], [0, 1, 0], [0, 0, -1], [0, -1, 0]])

2. Generating a Mesh Without Radius

The step_t parameter determines the granularity of the resulting mesh, corresponding to the step size in the spline parameter space (t). Setting the radius to None or 0 results in a line mesh.

# Generate a simple line mesh
points, connectivity = spline.mesh(step_t=0.1, radius=None)

# Prepend the number of points in each element (2 for a line) for PyVista
connectivity = np.hstack((np.full((connectivity.shape[0], 1), 2), connectivity))

# Create and plot the PyVista mesh
mesh = pyvista.PolyData(points, lines=connectivity)
mesh.plot()

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

3. Mesh with a Fixed Radius

Here, we generate a surface mesh (a “tube”) using a fixed radius. We employ the Frenet-Serret frame to avoid selecting an initial vector.

# Generate a surface mesh with a fixed radius
points, connectivity = spline.mesh(step_t=0.1, radius=0.2, frame="frenet")

# Prepend the number of points in each element (3 for triangles) for PyVista
connectivity = np.hstack((np.full((connectivity.shape[0], 1), 3), connectivity))

# Create and plot the PyVista mesh
mesh = pyvista.PolyData(points, faces=connectivity)
mesh.plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

3. Mesh with an Elliptical Cross-Section

You can define a custom cross-section shape by specifying the radius as a function of the spline parameter (t) and the polar angle (phi). Example 1: Elliptical Cross-Section ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

def elliptical_radius(t, phi):
    a = 0.1
    b = 0.05
    phi = np.deg2rad(phi)
    r = (a * b) / np.sqrt((b * np.cos(phi)) ** 2 + (a * np.sin(phi)) ** 2)
    return r


points, connectivity = spline.mesh(step_t=0.1, step_angle=36, radius=elliptical_radius, frame="frenet")

connectivity = np.hstack((np.full((connectivity.shape[0], 1), 3), connectivity))

mesh = pyvista.PolyData(points, faces=connectivity)
mesh.plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Example 2: Varying Radius Along the Spline

def radius(t, phi):
    return 0.1 + 0.03 * np.sin(t / spline.M * 16 * np.pi)


points, connectivity = spline.mesh(step_t=0.1, step_angle=36, radius=radius, frame="frenet")

connectivity = np.hstack((np.full((connectivity.shape[0], 1), 3), connectivity))

mesh = pyvista.PolyData(points, faces=connectivity)
mesh.plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

5. Bishop Frame for Mesh Generation

The Frenet-Serret frame is not defined on straight segments and at inflections point. In those cases, we can use the Bishop frame instead. Another advantage of the Bishop frame is that it does not twist around the spline.

Correcting Twists with the Bishop Frame

# Create a spline with for which the Frenet frame twists
spline = splinebox.Spline(M=M, basis_function=splinebox.B3(), closed=False)
spline.control_points = np.array(
    [
        [0.0, 0.0, 0.0],
        [2.0, 0.0, 0.0],
        [2.0, 2.0, 0.0],
        [2.0, 2.0, 2.0],
        [0.0, 2.0, 2.0],
        [0.0, 0.0, 0.0],
    ]
)

points, connectivity = spline.mesh(step_t=0.1, step_angle=36, radius=elliptical_radius, frame="frenet")

connectivity = np.hstack((np.full((connectivity.shape[0], 1), 3), connectivity))

mesh = pyvista.PolyData(points, faces=connectivity)
mesh.plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

You can clearly see how the ellipse twists around the spline. The Bishop frame eliminates this twist.

points, connectivity = spline.mesh(step_t=0.1, step_angle=36, radius=elliptical_radius, frame="bishop")

connectivity = np.hstack((np.full((connectivity.shape[0], 1), 3), connectivity))

mesh = pyvista.PolyData(points, faces=connectivity)
mesh.plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Changing the initial vector rotates the frame and therefore the ellipse.

initial_vector = np.array([0.5, -0.5, 1])

points, connectivity = spline.mesh(
    step_t=0.1, step_angle=36, radius=elliptical_radius, frame="bishop", initial_vector=initial_vector
)

connectivity = np.hstack((np.full((connectivity.shape[0], 1), 3), connectivity))

mesh = pyvista.PolyData(points, faces=connectivity)
mesh.plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

6. Volume Mesh

Finally, you can generate a volumetric mesh by setting the mesh_type to "volume".

points, connectivity = spline.mesh(
    radius=radius, step_t=0.5, step_angle=72, initial_vector=initial_vector, mesh_type="volume"
)

connectivity = np.hstack((np.full((connectivity.shape[0], 1), 4), connectivity))
cell_types = np.full(len(connectivity), fill_value=pyvista.CellType.TETRA, dtype=np.uint8)

mesh = pyvista.UnstructuredGrid(connectivity, cell_types, points)
mesh.plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

For a better understanding of the volume mesh we can explode it. This allows us to see the individual tetrahedra.

mesh.explode(factor=0.5).plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Tips

• Save meshes for visualization in ParaView using mesh.save("mesh.vtk").

• Surface meshes are open by default. Use the cap_ends keyword in splinebox.spline_curves.Spline.mesh() to close them.