Abstract
Isogeometric analysis (IGA), introduced in 2005 by T.J. R Hughes, replaces traditional Finite Elements with element descriptions using tensor product 3-varaite NonUniform Rational B-splines (NURBS), thus combining the exact topology description in Finite Element Analysis with the accurate shape representation in Computer Aided Design. NURBS based IGA shows great promise; however, NURBS lack the necessary local refinement needed. Locally Refined splines (LR B-splines), such as T-splines and the novel Locally Refined B-splines (LR B-splines) show great promise with respect to the needed local refinement. The session will address IGA, LR B-splines, and the dimension of spline space overT-grids and triangulations. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was already established in 1970 when Computer Aided Geometric Design (CAGD) community was established. Until the introduction of IGA by T. J. R. Hughes in 2005 little cooperation took place between the FEA and CAGD communities. IGA has the potential to drastically improve the interoperability of CAGD and FEA and the quality FEA. To achieve this we need improved technology and increased research into spline technology, FEA and visualization.