Intersection: Calculate nodes on the intersection curve of two regular surfaces

This command calculates nodes on an intersection curve of two regular surfaces. The following types of surfaces are supported: Plane, circular cylinder, sphere, cone and torus.

The command is used to produce individual nodes to define macro elements, or to move nodes created by the subdivision of macro elements, onto a regular surface to get a smoother structure. The definition is done by first creating additional nodes on one surface then move these nodes along a given direction onto the other surface. For example moving nodes on the surface of a circular cylinder along the direction of the cylinder axis onto a torus, will calculate nodes on the intersection curve of this circular cylinder with the torroidal surface. You can choose to create additional nodes or to move existing ones. Creating additional nodes will assign node elements (element type 1) to these nodes because only nodes of existing elements can be saved.

After specifying the parameters within the corresponding dialog the nodes to be moved onto the regular surface have to be selected. Button "Apply" causes the calculation to be done. Multiple selections can be specified. Pressing "Cancel" closes the dialog.

In case no intersection can be found, for example because the defining nodes of a plane surface are placed on a straight line or because there are no intersections within the given direction, an error message is produced. Otherwise the number of calculated intersections is shown.

Following dialog shows the available options:

Surface

Plane: 3 nodes defining the plane must be provided

Circular cylinder: 2 nodes defining the axis respectively 3 nodes defining a plane perpendicular to the cylinder axis and the radius of the cylinder must be provided.

Sphere: Center and radius must be provided

Cone: 2 nodes on the cone axis and the radii of the cone at these 2 nodes must be provided

Torus: 3 nodes within the plane of the torus and the 2 radii must be provided

Points P1-P3: Coordinates (x,y,z) of the related points or an existing node ID must be provided

By pressing „Graphical“ the corresponding node is to be selected within OpenGL window. The IDs of these selected nodes are entered within input fields.

R1,R2: If needed by the chosen surface, the radii must be provided

Direction vector

3 vector components of the desired direction of intersection or the external IDs of 2 existing nodes must be provided. In case of 2 IDs, the direction vector is build from the coordinate difference between these nodes. The direction can be arbitrarily, except with toroidal surfaces where the direction must be parallel or perpendicular to the toroidal plane. Clicking „Graphically“ causes the graphical selection of 2 nodes, defining the direction for intersection. In case option „Normal“ is marked, the normal vector of the surface is used as a direction vector, no additional input is necessary.

Save nodes

As new nodes: The calculated intersection nodes are saved as new nodes together with an associated node element. Within the input field "Group ID" these elements can be assigned a group ID.

Overwrite nodes: The coordinates calculated by the intersection replace the coordinates of the original nodes, i.e. the original nodes are moved onto the regular surface.

Node selection

Within the corresponding dialog nodes can be selected at multiple times. Nodes can also be selected graphically.

Undo

Pressing this button will delete the latest created nodes.