USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD TO DRAW CONTOUR

The traditional method to draw contours has somedisadvantages, such as adjacent contours are not well fitted and contoursintersect and overlap each other. In order to overcome them, another simple but highly effective method is proposed in this paper. This methodis based on mechanical model of spline function. The principle isthat the vertical displacements of elastic lamella grids theelevation of land key points. Consequently we can use the finite elementmethod to draw contours accurately. Through two examples,the practicability of this method is illuminated by using finite element general programANSYS to draw contour. This method can be widely used in drawing contours oflarge scale relief maps.