Reverse Engineering in Simulation Integration Techniques

This technical report presents an exploration of reverse engineering (RE) methodologies as they apply to simulation workflows, particularly focusing on the conversion of simulation meshes into CAD models. The report outlines the traditional role of RE in bridging physical artifacts with digital representations, highlighting its applications in product benchmarking and piracy mitigation. It discusses the structural similarities between simulation meshes and scanned meshes, suggesting that RE techniques can be effectively utilized in the virtual domain. The paper details various current techniques for mesh-to-CAD transformation, including automated surfacing, parametric reconstruction, and hybrid approaches, while addressing the limitations of these methods, such as the non-parametric nature of the output. Key advancements like adaptive patching and geometric primitive incorporation are examined for their impact on accuracy and usability. The report also includes case studies demonstrating the practical applications of these techniques in simulation validation and digital twin creation, advocating for a paradigm shift towards tighter integration of simulation and design workflows.