Mechanical Systems: Computing library for simulations in continuum and discrete mechanics

MechSys is a programming library for the implementation of simulation tools in mechanics. Its source code is mainly written in C++ with parts in Python and Go (under development).

Potential applications include, for instance, solid mechanics using the finite element method, mechanics of granular materials using the discrete element method, and computational fluid dynamics using the lattice Boltzmann method.

See: References below for papers produced with MechSys.

See: Mailing list for a forum for discussions and Q&A: MechSys' mailing list.

The Discrete Element Method in MechSys can handle particles of many different shapes.

MechSys can be used to develop simulation tools for continuum mechanical systems as well as for systems based on the concept of discrete/molecular dynamics.

Library

This library includes (among others):

Routines for structured and unstructured mesh generation;
C++ and Python routines for the mesh generators Triangle and Tetgen;
Extensions for Blender, a 3D content creation software, for computer aided design and generation of meshes;
Mathematical models based on continuum mechanics for solid and porous materials;
Linear algebra routines using C++ expression templates for maximum programming convenience and calculation efficiency;
Routines for the large scale sparse linear solvers UMFPACK and MUMPS (for parallel processing);
Tools for the creation of graphical user interfaces with wxWidgets;
Routines for convenient development of 3D graphics using the visualization toolkit (VTK);
Routines for calling the Gnu Scientific Library for basic (and advanced) numerical methods;
An engine for finite element simulations of solids and fluids (with option for parallel processing using OpenMPI);
An engine for discrete element simulations of granular media, eventually coupled with fluids via the lattice Boltzmann method;
An engine for lattice Boltzmann simulations of multi-component fluids (liquids and gases);
An engine based on smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) for simulations of fluid dynamics; and
An engine based on the material point method (MPM) for simulations of large deformation problems in solid mechanics.

References

The following list presents some Conference and Journal papers that have employed MechSys for calculations.

Acknowledgement of these papers is highly appreciated especially if you use MechSys in your work.

Galindo-Torres SA (2013) A coupled Discrete Element Lattice Boltzmann Method for the simulation of fluid-solid interaction with particles of general shapes Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering , submitted

Galindo-Torres SA, Pedroso DM, Williams DJ, Muhlhaus HB (2013) Strength of non-spherical particle assemblies under triaxial and shearing loading configurations. Granular Matter, submitted

Galindo-Torres SA, Scheuermann A, Li L, Pedroso DM, Williams DJ (2013) A lattice Boltzmann model for studying transient effects during imbibition-drainage cycles in unsaturated soils. Computer Physics Communications, 184(4), 1086-1093. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2012.11.015

Galindo-Torres SA, Scheuermann A, Li L (2012) A numerical study of the permeability in a tensorial form for laminar flow in anisotropic media. Physical Review E, 86, 046306. dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.86.046306

Galindo-Torres SA, Pedroso DM, Williams DJ, Li L (2012) Breaking processes in three-dimensional bonded granular materials with general shapes. Computer Physics Communications, 183(2), 266-277. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2011.10.001

Pedroso DM, Galindo-Torres SA, Williams DJ (2010) On the mechanical behaviour of dry cohesionless soils by DEM simulations. Proc 5th International Workshop on New Frontiers in Computational Geotechnics (NFCOMGEO-V), July 26-27 (2010), Brisbane, Australia, ISBN:9784877971779

Galindo-Torres SA, Pedroso DM (2010) Molecular dynamics simulations of complex shaped particles using Voronoi-based spheropolyhedra. Physical Review E, 81, 061303. dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.81.061303

Galindo-Torres SA, Marroquin F, Wang Y, Pedroso DM, Castano J (2009) Molecular dynamics simulation of complex particles in three dimensions and the study of friction due to nonconvexity. Physical Review E, 79, 060301. dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.060301

Buzzi O, Pedroso DM, Giacomini A (2008) Caveats on the implementation of the Generalized Material Point Method, Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, 31(2), 85-106. dx.doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2008.031.085

Copyright of the papers rests with a variety of different parties. They are made available solely on the same basis that the researcher would supply a single copy of a paper to an individual. It is up to you to ensure that your use of a paper does not infringe copyright law.

Examples

Some animations produced by MechSys' simulations are shown below. Additional animations can be found in the MechSysLib YouTube channel or in Sergio Torres' Youtube channel for simulations created from the DEM and the LBM modules.

Mechanical Systems: Computing library for simulations in continuum and discrete mechanics

Table of Contents

Library

References

Examples

LBM Simulations

DEM Simulations

DEM+LBM Simulations

Mailing List

Contact