Algorithm For Connecting Prisms And Tetrahedra

• Find all prism chains in the mesh.
• Create a virtual connection between the faces of the tetrahedra that meet the triangular faces at each end of the chain.
• Proceed with Algorithm 2 to connect the tetrahedral mesh treating the virtual links as real connections.
• Orient each prism in each chain with the same orientation as the triangular faces of the tetrahedra at the ends of the virtual link. Thus, the orientation propagates through the chain.

In figure 2.9 we summarize which elements can be connected using the above algorithms. A solid line between elements implies we can connect a given mesh made of these two element types with no problems. If the line is dashed then the mesh may have to be changed to meet the connectivity constraints.

  

Figure 2.9: Connectivity summary. Solid arrows imply we can connect elements together with no extra mesh refinement, dashed arrows mean that there are some constraints on allowable configurations.