Automatic mesh generation allowing for efficient a priori and a posteriori control of the number and distribution of elements

A mesh-controlling scheme for full automatic mesh generators is presented. A relative element size function H_r(X ) is self-adaptively constructed and controlled over the domain globally. The user is only required to edit interactively H_r(X) values of geometry-specifying points and a few others. A mesh of desired element number and distribution can be automatically generated. The resultant mesh can also be refined efficiently, continuously, and smoothly using the same mesh-control method. Although the method is presented in a planar context, the scheme can be directly used in 3-D, and its attractive features remain unchanged