BFEX: A Toolbox for Finite Element Analysis With Fossils and Blender

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Computational Mechanics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is increasingly utilized in paleontological research for biomechanical studies of fossil specimens.
• Current FEA workflows often involve time-consuming and complex data preparation, including surface mesh cleaning and boundary condition definition.
• Existing software solutions for these tasks can be ill-suited or require expensive licenses, hindering accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce BFEX (Blender Finite Element eXporter), a novel Blender add-on designed to simplify the creation of input data for FEA software.
• To reduce the time and expertise required for preparing fossil models for FEA.
• To enhance the user-friendliness and efficiency of FEA in paleontological research.

Main Methods:

• Development of BFEX as a Blender add-on, integrating with the existing 3D modeling environment.
• BFEX facilitates surface mesh cleaning and the selection of nodes for applying boundary conditions (e.g., muscle forces, displacements).
• The add-on aims to streamline the export process for FEA software, specifically targeting the Fossils software.

Main Results:

• BFEX significantly simplifies the process of preparing fossil models for FEA.
• The add-on reduces the reliance on external, specialized, or costly software for mesh cleaning and boundary condition setup.
• The integration within Blender provides a more intuitive and efficient workflow for researchers.

Conclusions:

• BFEX offers a user-friendly and efficient solution for preparing fossil models for Finite Element Analysis.
• This tool has the potential to accelerate research in paleontology by lowering the barrier to entry for advanced computational analyses.
• BFEX promotes wider adoption of FEA in the study of fossil biomechanics and morphology.