随着3维模型使用得日益广泛，对3维模型检索系统的研究，近年来日益受到了国内外广大研究人员的关注。3维模型形状相似性比较算法是3维模型检索系统的主要研究问题之一，很多学者对其进行了深入的研究并提出了很多算法。为了使人们对该领域现状有个概略了解，首先介绍了3维模型检索系统，同时回顾了近几年来3维模型检索技术的发展概况，并且从3维模型检索系统实用性的角度分析了3维模型形状相似性比较算法所应该具备的特点；然后对3维模型形状相似性比较算法进行了分类综述，同时分析了它们的特点，并对其中的一些算法进行了检索对比实验；最后归纳了3维模型形状相似性比较算法研究所面临的困难和挑战，指出了进一步研究此问题的发展空间，并对此问题进行了展望。

Since more and more 3D models are developed for applications, the technique for content-based 3D model shape matching become more and more important, and researches have presented kinds of 3D model shape matching algorithms. In this paper, a comprehensive survey of the up-to-date methods and technologies for content-based 3D model shape matching algorithms is presented. The system framework of 3D model retrieval system is first introduced. Then the primary key techniques of 3D model shape matching, including anisotropy transform, coordinate normalization, online-based shape matching, topological-based shape matching, visual-based shape matching, and some. At experimental results with a 3D model database that contains 2 533 3D models, are analyzed the studying progress in this field, proposes a few weaknesses in 3D model shape similarity matching research field, and future areas of research are also put forward.