Solid Modeling

This is a method which is adapted to create 3D geometry in computer graphics. Normally, the
3D geometries are created using 3 approaches:
1. Wireframe Modeling
2. Surface Modeling
3. Solid Modeling
In wireframe modelling, the model is created by making use of set of lines or wires and hence
the name wireframe modelling. In this, the skeleton of the geometry is displayed and the whole
geometry is displayed with a single colour. The wireframe models are ambiguous models since
there is no hidden line removal.

Figure: Wireframe model of a car

In surface modelling, the drawbacks of wireframe model are overcome by creating the lateral
surfaces of the geometry. This method can be utilized to construct the geometry corresponding
to the body (outer shell/cover) of automobile bodies,ship hulls,aircraft bodies,etc. The
disadvantage is that these models are hollow models.
A solid model of an object is a more complete representation than its surface (wireframe) model.
It provides more topological information in addition to the geometrical information which helps
to represent the solid unambiguously. In solid modelling, the actual 3D geometry is constructed
by assigning material properties to it. The solid models thus constructed will have mass
properties, volumetric properties and physical properties according to the material applied. They
also display photorealistic appearance on the screen. Unlike wireframes and surface
representations which contain only geometrical data, the solid model uses topological
information in addition to the geometrical information to represent the object unambiguously
and completely.

Prepared by Krishna Kumar, Subhash Acharya and Kevin. A. Mathias

Page 1 of 7

Geometry: The graphical information of dimension, length, angle, area and transformations
Topology: The invisible information about the connectivity, neighborhood, associatively etc
Solid model results in accurate design, helps to strenthen the goal of CAD/ CAM like CIM, Flexible
manufacturing leading to better automation of the manufacturing process.

Among the several solid modelling schemes Constructive Solid Geometry or CSG or C-Rep and
Boundary Representations or (B-Rep) are currently the most important representation
approaches for solids.
1. Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) or (C-Rep)
The CSG approach allows the user to build the model out of standard geometric primitives such
as rectangular blocks or prisms, pyramids, spheres, cones, cylinder,etc This "building-block
geometry" approach begins with a set of primitive solid objects such as the block, sphere,
cylinder, cone, torus, and wedge shown in Figure. Each of these primitives is easily described by
a small set of user-defined parameters specifying the primitive's geometry, location, and
orientation.
A desired solid can be obtained by combining two or more solids.After creating the required
geometry, the geometries are transformed to the required locations followed by the Boolean
operations such as union, substraction, intersection, etc to get the end product.

Prepared by Krishna Kumar, Subhash Acharya and Kevin. A. Mathias

Page 2 of 7

Boolean Operations

New solid models can be created from the primitives or other solid models by the following
operations:
Union (U): Two solids are joined and the common volume of one of the primitives is
neglected in the resulting solid.
Subtraction or Difference (-): One solid is subtracted from the other and the resultant
solid retains only the uncut portion of the solid.
Intersection (): When two solids are combined, the resultant solid represents the
common volume of the two solids.
Advantage of CSG or C-Rep
CSG is powerful with high level command.
Easy to construct a solid model minimum step.
CSG modeling techniques lead to a concise database less storage.
Complete history of model is retained and can be altered at any point.
Can be converted to the corresponding boundary representation.
Disadvantage of CSG or C-Rep
Only boolean operations are allowed in the modeling process
with boolean operation alone, the range of shapes to be modeled is severely
restricted
not possible to construct unusual shape.
Requires a great deal of computation to derive the information on the boundary, faces
and edges which is important for the interactive display/ manipulation of solid.

Prepared by Krishna Kumar, Subhash Acharya and Kevin. A. Mathias

Page 3 of 7

2. Boundary representation (B-Rep):

In Boundary representation, boundaries or profiles of the object are drawn or modelled and are
related with each other using the concepts of engineering drawings. (method of projections).
The B-rep is built on the idea that a physical object is enclosed by a set of faces, which themselves
belong to closed and orientable surfaces.
Geometric and topology entities
Point
Vertex
Curve
Edge
Surface
Face
Primitives:
In B-rep, a model is made up of the following primitives:
Vertex: A point in space
Edge: A finite, no-intersecting space curve bounded by two vertices that are not necessarily
distinct.
Face: A finite connected, non-self-intersecting, region of a closed oriented surface, bounded by
one or more loops.
Loop: An ordered alternating sequence of vertices and edges. A loop defines a non-selfintersecting closed space curve, which may be a boundary of a face.
Body: Entity that has faces, edges and vertices. A minimum body is a point.

Prepared by Krishna Kumar, Subhash Acharya and Kevin. A. Mathias

Page 4 of 7

The Eular-Poincar law gives a quantitative relationship among faces, edges, vertices, faces inner
loops, bodies or through holes (genus) in solids.
The Eular-Poincar law
F E + V - L = 2 (B - G)
Where,
F = Face
E = Edge
V = Vertices
L = Inner Loop
B = Bodies
G = through holes
A loop represents a connected portion of the boundary of a face. The faces inner loop represents
the connected portion of the boundary of two faces.
Eular law is not only suit for solids with planar faces, but also for curved objects with closed
curved faces or edges.
A simple polyhedral has no holes; each face is bounded by a single set of connected edges
(bounded by one loop of edges).
Eulers equation for a simple polyhedral can be reduced to: F - E + V = 2
Example: For the box shown,

F = 6, E = 12, and V = 8

Examples of other types of polyhedral are shown below.

Prepared by Krishna Kumar, Subhash Acharya and Kevin. A. Mathias

Page 5 of 7

Advantage of B-Rep
Capability to construct unusual shapes that would not be possible with the available eg.
aircraft fuselages, swing shapes
Less computational time to reconstruct the image
Disadvantage of B-Rep
Requires more storage
Model display limited to planar faces and linear edges
- Complex curve and surfaces only approximated
Diffrences between Constructive Solid Geometry and Boundary representation approaches
Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG or C-Rep)

Boundary representation (B- Rep)

3D models can be easily constructed using Complex 3D solid models are created using
standard geometry.
the profiles or boundaries of the object.

Prepared by Krishna Kumar, Subhash Acharya and Kevin. A. Mathias

Page 6 of 7

Boolean operations are essential to get the Boolean operations are optional.
final object.
Editing and modifying the model is easy.

Editing and modifying the model is difficult.

Normal operator skills are required to make Highly skilled operators are required to make
the model.
the model.
Geometry occupies more storage space on Geometry occupies less storage space on the
the disk.
disk.
Requires more computation
reconstruct the geometry.

time

to Does not require much computation time to

reconstruct the geometry.

Simple and standard geometry can be Any complex or unusual shape of the
created.
geometry can be created.

Terminal Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Differentiate between C-Rep and B-Rep.

Explain CSG technique
Explain B-rep Technique
Lists the advantages and disadvantages of CSG
List the advantages and disadvantages of B-Rep

Prepared by Krishna Kumar, Subhash Acharya and Kevin. A. Mathias

Page 7 of 7