Cloud2FEM: A finite element mesh generator based on point clouds of existing/historical structures

Nowadays, the common output of surveying activities on existing/historical structures consists of dense point clouds. However, the direct and automatic exploitation of point clouds for structural purposes, i.e. to generate finite element models, is still very limited. In this framework, the Cloud2FEM software supplies an automatic finite element mesh generator based on point clouds of existing/historical structures. Cloud2FEM is based on open-source Python libraries with graphical interface. The point cloud is initially sliced along with the vertical direction. Then, closed polygons are recognized on each slice and stacked vertically thanks to the use of voxels. The voxelized volume is exported into 3D solid hexahedron-based finite element meshes. Suitable graphical tools are developed to help the user adjusting local potential criticalities in the slices, also when partial information is missing in the points cloud. An illustrative example is given to highlight the Cloud2FEM potentialities.