Steven J. Owen

M.S. Civil Engineering, Brigham Young University, 1992

B.S. Civil Engineering, Brigham Young University, 1992

I graduated with my Ph.D. in 1999 from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. My advisor was Dr. Sunil Saigal. The subject of my doctoral research was unstructured finite element mesh generation, My dissertation focussed on several topics related to Non-Simplicial Unstructured Mesh Generation, or simply, mesh generation methods involving quads, hexes and pyramids. I came up with a novel approach to generating all-quad and hex-dominant meshes for arbitrary domains. I have also worked on other related problems such as boundary layer meshing for CFD, mesh morphing for micro-mechanical (MEMS) devices, anisotropic mesh generation on parametric surfaces, surface parameterizations, mesh refinement and constrained Delaunay methods. I also have written a review paper on unstructured mesh generation methods which has been referenced frequently by authors in the field.

Just for fun, I maintain a web site, called the Meshing Research Corner. It started just as a convenient way to keep track of current literature, but now has evolved into a site where I maintain more than 900 references related to mesh generation, many of which have full papers available on-line.

Although my recent research has been in the area of mesh generation, I also have experience in diverse fields, such as computer aided geometric design, groundwater flow and transport modelling, interpolation and site characterization, user interface development and scientific visualization.

Until November 1999 I held the position of a Senior Development Engineer at ANSYS Inc.. I completed my Bachelors and Masters degrees at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Until 1990-95 I managed the development of the Department of Defense sponsored groundwater modeling software, GMS. I was one of the software managers in the Engineering Computer Graphics Laboratory in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Finite element mesh generation
Computer graphics and visualization
Interpolation
Structural Mechanics
Groundwater flow and transport modeling
User interface development

William Roshan Quadros, Steven James Owen, Mike Brewer, Kenji Shimada, “Finite Element Mesh Sizing For Surfaces Using Skeleton”, 13th International Meshing Roundtable, Williamsburg VA, Sept. 2004, pp. 389-400
Abstract | Download PDF

Nathan J. Harris, Steven E. Benzley, Steven J. Owen, “Conformal Refinement of All-Hexahedral Element Meshes Based On Multiple Twist Plane Insertion”, 13th International Meshing Roundtable, Williamsburg VA, Sept. 2004, pp. 157-168
Abstract | Download PDF

W. R. Quadros, Kenji Shimada, S. J. Owen, "Skeleton-Based Computational Method for Generation of 3D Finite Element Mesh Sizing Function", Engineering with Computers, Vol 20, No. 2 (2004), pp. 249-264
Online Publisher Abstract

David White, Sunil Saigal and Steven Owen, “CCSweep: Automatic Decomposition of Multi-sweep Volumes”, Engineering With Computers Vol 20, No. 2 (2004) pp. 222-236
Online Publisher Abstract

White DR , Saigal S, Owen SJ. “An Imprint and merge algorithm incorporating geometric tolerances for conformal meshing of misaligned assemblies.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering , 2004; 59:1839-1860
Online Publisher Abstract

White, David R., Sunil Saigal, Steven J. Owen, "Meshing complexity of single part CAD models", Proceedings, 12th International Meshing Roundtable , Sandia National Laboratories, pp.121-134, Sept. 2003
Abstract | Download PDF

Owen, Steven J. and David R. White, “Mesh-Based Geometry”, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering , Vol 58, No. 2 (2003), pp. 375-395
Abstract | Online Publisher Abstract

Steven J. Owen and Mark S. Shepherd eds., "Special Issue on Trends in Unstructured Mesh Generation" Engineering With Computers , Vol. 20, Num. 2, September 2004
Online Publication

Steven J. Owen and Mark S. Shepherd eds., "Special Issue on Trends in Unstructured Mesh Generation" International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 58, Num. 2, September 2003
Online Publication

Steven J. Owen and David R. White, "Mesh-Based Geometry" International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 58, Num. 2, pp.375-395, September 2003
Abstract | Online Publication

Steven J. Owen, David R. White and Timothy J. Tautges, "Facet-Based Surfaces for 3D Mesh Generation" Proceedings, 11th International Meshing Roundtable, pp.297-312, September 15-18 2002
Abstract | Download PDF

Owen, Steven J. and David R. White, "Mesh-Based Geometry: A Systematic Approach to Constructing Geometry From A Finite Element Mesh" Proceedings, 10th International Meshing Roundtable, pp.83-96, October 7-10 2001
Abstract | Download Postscript

Owen, Steven J. ed. "9th International Meshing Roundtable Special Edition", Engineering With Computers Vol 17 No. 3, (2001)
Online Publisher Abstract

Owen, Steven J. "Hex-dominant mesh generation using 3D constrained triangulation", CAD Vol 33 No. 3, (2001)
Abstract | Online Publisher Abstract

Owen, Steven J., Sunil Saigal, "Formation of Pyramid Elements for Hexahedra to Tetrahedra Transitions", Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Vol 190, No. 34 (2001), pp.4505-4518

Canann, Scott A., Sunil Saigal and Steven J. Owen eds. International Journal for Numerical Methods, special edition on unstructured mesh generation. Vol 49 No. 1/2, (2000)
Preface to Special Edition | Online Publisher Reference

Owen, Steven J. and Sunil Saigal "H-Morph: An Indirect Approach to Advancing Front Hex Meshing", International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol 49 No. 1/2, (2000) pp. 289-312
Abstract | Online Publisher Reference 

Vladimir Zhulin, Steve Owen and Dale Ostergaard "Finite Element Based Electrostatic-Structural Coupled Analysis with Automated Mesh Morphing", Third Annual Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Microsystems (MSM 2000) San Diego, CA, March 2000
Abstract | Download Postscript

Owen, Steven J. and Sunil Saigal "Surface Mesh Sizing Control", International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering Vol. 47 No. 1, (2000) pp. 497-511
Abstract | Online Publisher Reference

Owen, Steven J. "Constrained Triangulation: Application to Hex-Dominant Mesh Generation", Proceedings, 8th International Meshing Roundtable, Lake Tahoe, CA, October 1999 pp. 31-41
Abstract | Download Postscript

Owen, Steven J. "Non-Simplicial Unstructured Mesh Generation", Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, April, 1999
Abstract | Download Postscript (14M)
Download Postscript 50 pages at a time:

pp. 1-50 (730K)
pp. 51-100 (6.9M)
pp. 101-150 (673K)
pp. 151-219 (6.4M)

Owen, Steven J., M. L. Staten, S. A. Canann, and S. Saigal "Q-Morph: An Indirect Approach to Advancing Front Quad Meshing", International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol 44, No. 9, (1999) pp. 1317-1340
Abstract | Online Publisher Reference

Owen, Steven J., "A Survey of Unstructured Mesh Generation Technology", Proceedings 7th International Meshing Roundtable, Dearborn, MI, October 1998
View HTML Document | Download Postscript

Owen, Steven J., Matthew L. Staten, Scott A Canann and Sunil Saigal "Quad-Morphing: Advancing Front Quad Meshing Using Triangle Transformations", Proceedings 7th International Meshing Roundtable, Dearborn, MI, October 1998
Abstract | View HTML Document | Download Postscript

Tristano, Joseph R., Steven J. Owen, and Scott A. Canann, "Advancing Front Surface Mesh Generation in Parametric Space Using a Riemannian Surface Definition," Proceedings 7th International Meshing Roundtable, Dearborn, MI, October 1998
Abstract | View HTML Document | Download Postscript

Staten, Matthew L., Scott A. Canann and Steven J. Owen, "BMSWEEP: Locating Interior Nodes During Sweeping," Proceedings 7th International Meshing Roundtable, Dearborn, MI, October 1998 (submitted to Engineering With Computers)
Abstract | Download Postscript

Owen, S.J. and Sunil Saigal. "Neighborhood-Based Element Sizing Control for Finite Element Surface Meshing", Proceedings 6th International Meshing Roundtable, Park City, UT, October 1997
Abstract| Download Postscript

Owen, S.J., Scott Canann and Sunil Saigal. "Pyramid Elements for Maintaining Tetrahedra to Hexahedra Conformability" AMD-Vol.220, Proceedings Special Session on Trends in Unstructured Mesh Generation: 1997 Joint ASME/ASCE/SES Summer Meeting, June 29-July 2, 1997, Northwestern University, Evanston IL.
Abstract| View HTML Document| Download gzipped Postscript

Owen, S.J., Jones, N.L., Holland, J., "A Comprehensive Modeling Environment for the Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Transport." Engineering With Computers, 1996.
Abstract| View HTML Document

Jones, N.L., Owen, S.J., Perrie, E., "Plume Characterization Using Natural Neighbor Interpolation", Proceedings Geo-Environment 2000. New Orleans, Feb. 1995.
Abstract

Zundel, A.K., Saito, T., Owen, S.J., Sederberg, T.W., Christiansen, H.N., "Gas Flow Visualization for Combustion Analysis," Energy and Fuels, Volume 7, No. 6, 1993, pp. 891-896.

Owen, Steven J. "Subsurface Characterization with Three-Dimensional Natural Neighbor Interpolation", Unpublished, 1993
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Owen, Steven J. "An Implementation of Natural Neighbor Interpolation in Three Dimensions", Master's Thesis, Brigham Young University, pp.118, 1992
Abstract| View HTML Document

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 5800. Mail Stop 0376
Albuquerque, NM
U.S.A. 87185-0376

for non-mail deliveries:
1515 Eubank SE. Mail Stop 0376
Albuquerque, NM
U.S.A. 87123

Phone: 505-284-6599
Fax: 505-284-0140
Email: sjowen@sandia.gov

Last Updated April 19, 2005